Sunday, November 30 2008
Clinton, Ia. - Smokers from across the Illinois border may keep the lucky streak going at Iowa's newest casino.
Almost 320,000 gamblers came to the Wild Rose Casino and Resort in its first four months, state records show. About two-thirds of the Wild Rose's customers live across the Mississippi River in Illinois, where a new state law bans smoking in public places, including casinos. In contrast, Iowa's smoking ban still allows smoking in casinos.
"In Illinois, you cannot even smoke on the gaming floor, and that gives us a little bit of a competitive advantage," said Tim Bollmann, the Wild Rose's general manager. But the new Rock Island, Ill., casino opening today will have some impact here, and so will a new $80 million gambling complex opening Dec. 11 at Dubuque's Diamond Jo Casino, he added.
Illinois smoking ban benefits Clinton casino continues...
