A proposal for a statewide smoking ban is moving ahead in the Legislature and could be sent to the Senate by next week.

The House tentatively approved a statewide smoking ban with three exceptions: casinos, cigar bars and the smoking lounge at Denver International Airport.

It faces a third reading before it goes before the Senate.

A parade of business groups ranging from pool halls to taverns had asked lawmakers for exemptions to the proposed ban, but Representative Mike May said lawmakers should not try to pick winners and losers.

The Parker Republican said businesses in communities that have approved smoking bans are losing customers to competitors that are not affected by the ban.