Non-Smoking Areas at Saddle West
After Aces High Management, with majority owner, Las Vegas developer Anthony Marnell III, and minority owner, Sher Gaming, took over the Saddle West June 1st from longtime Pahrump owners, Dennis and Steve Duesing and the Shinehouse Family Trust, officials at the Saddle West Hotel and Casino announced a non-smoking area in the casino as part of a renovation.
The non-smoking area is located at the rear section of the casino with new fixtures and slot machines. It was the former sportsbook area renovated for this purpose.
According to Saddle West Operations Director Ryley Young this room has a physical separation from the rest of the casino that afforded them the opportunity to look at Pahrump's first non-smoking casino area. "It's certainly a change for some people to come into a non-smoking area," he continued.
A little less than a third of the total gaming area comprise the non-smoking area in the Saddle West. There have been few complaints, admitted Young, but mostly the change has met with approval.
Young said that one of the things they have struggled with for years is the air quality and that the improvements to the casino will include better air circulation for the smoking area as well as when the air outside is below a certain temperature. "It'll be bringing the fresh air in and recycling the air so we get the smoke out of the building," remarked Young.
The improvements are part of Phase I of the Saddle West remodeling project that will be completed in October with everything the company is planning.
The sports book is transfered near where the Players Club has been situated, closer to the bar, which will also be remodeled, which will include new televisions, including plasma TVs, and a Sunday NFL package where customers can see all the games.
Young said that the non-smoking trend could extend to table games as well. "We'll probably experiment with one or two of the blackjack tables being non-smoking as well," Young said.