Gaming briefs for Dec. 4, 2003

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003 | 10:50 a.m.

Gambling cards consolidated

Boyd Gaming Corp. has introduced a player loyalty card for slot and casino pit play that can be used at the company's three downtown Las Vegas casinos -- Main Street Station, California and Fremont.

The company said customers requested the program, which replaces slot clubs for individual properties. The new card is called the Players Gold Card.

"Many of our slot and pit customers enjoy visiting and playing at all three downtown properties," said John Repetti, senior vice president and director of operations for Boyd's downtown properties.

Casinos included in smoking ban

TACOMA, Wash. -- The Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health on Wednesday night unanimously approved a ban on smoking in bars, restaurants, bowling alleys, casinos and other indoor public places.

If it takes effect in 30 days, as scheduled, it would be the state's first such ban, the health board said.

County Health Director Federico Cruz had recommended the ban to protect workers and others from second-hand smoke.

Opponents, including the Washington Restaurant Association, say the county lacks authority to impose a ban. They say it's better to allow restaurants to decide on their own whether to ban smoking.

The restaurant group declared it plans to sue, both to block the law from being implemented and to overturn it entirely.

King County, which includes Seattle, considered a similar ban in 1998, but dropped the idea after a preliminary opinion from the attorney general's office said it would conflict with state law.

Tribe loses bid for arbitration

ALBUQUERQUE -- A judge Tuesday denied the Mescalero Apache Tribe's attempt to force the state to arbitrate over gambling compacts, ruling a dispute over the sharing of gambling revenue with the state must be decided in federal court.