While visiting our local casino(Niagara Falls New York), I found a nice little store . They sell smokes of all types and impulse items to enhance your visit to the Casino .

I purchased two Cohiba's and went on my gambling way . The first one i enjoyed while playing slots . Good smoke , no winnings so i moved on. My wife and i decided to have a bite to eat. We have eaten at the casino's indoor/outdoor style restaurant many times.It is a smoking facility. We sat way in the corner , the ventilation there is like a vacuum , it draws your smoke up and over the partition and out of the restaurant . No clouds , no smells to others near by.

A waitress came over and said "You must put out the cigar - or leave." I asked if anyone complained, "No , but if you don't put it out i will call security." I asked to see the manager ,she arrived carrying a walkie talky. She said , " We have no policy to exclude cigars , but you must leave now!" I asked if anyone complained and pointed out that everyone around us was smoking cigarettes.

All of a sudden we were encircled by five security persons , one waitress and this manager. I asked why they were doing all this outrageous show of force. I reminded them that i bought my smokes from them , i gambled hundreds that night alone and everyone else was smoking and no one complained. The people at the tables nearest us ( about 7 feet away) had no problems and because of the ventilation said they didn't even notice any cigar smoke.

Next two New York State Police came in. Now we were encircled by ten people. I believe they were grossly over reacting. I just asked why they were embarrassing us like this .They said we had to leave or be arrested.

We decided to call it a night. It is obvious that: When they are taking your money , when gambling , when selling you cigars its all good. You can even smoke (cigars,cigarettes) at the gaming tables - shoulder to shoulder with others.

Why can they cause such a ruckus when no one complains , THEY ACTUALLY bring the tobacco items to you , sell them in their stores , then ruin your night by having ten people surround you , refuse to serve your food , then escort you back to the gaming floor and say , "Now you can stay and light up if you want to." Of course , they wanted us to stay and gamble more . We kept walking out the door.

It just isn't fair!

sounds very odd to me...i'd arrange a meeting with a manager....i'm in buffalo and i've never heard of this problem before...

Sir,
It seemed to me that management didn't care. I had asked for a manager and the guy (Darryl) just stood there watching the whole event. He was the person that said i could resume smoking on the gaming floor. I see that as part of th insult. So as long as your gambling our buying from them , its OK . But don't sit in a smoking area restaurant and fire up a cigar they sold you.

I think as many others do , that is discrimination . There are three casino,s in our area - maybe time to try others ! Have you ever smoked a cigar in the smoking restaurant?

I have heard of several smoking places, not allowing cigars to be smoked. The excuses given have been because of the amount of smoke and strength of the aroma as compared to a cigarette.

I call B.S. on this argument. I would much rather enjoy the pure tobacco aroma of a cigar than the chemically laced smoke from a cigarette.

It is a shame you were handled in such a disgusting manner. Good choice finding the exit on that one!

Jim

__________________
"If at first you don't succeed, kick 'em in the nuts until they submit"