A decision by Macau’sLegislative Assembly to debate amendments to a year-old law restricting smoking in casinos has led one lawmaker to call for a complete ban.
Ella Lei, who introduced the motion, said the partial ban implemented at the start of 2013, which requires casinos to maintain half their gaming floors as non-smoking, is not working, given “the lenient supervision by the government”.
The assembly should therefore debate “whether there should be immediate revision to the law to implement a full smoking ban in gaming venues in order to protect the occupational safety of gaming employees,” she said. The workspace for casino employees was even “worse” than before the partial ban, she added.
Legislator Ng Kuok Cheong said he agreed with Lei and that now is “the appropriate timing” to enforce a full ban.
Lawmakers plan to discuss a recommendation from the six casino operators that would prohibit smoking in the public areas of the casinos while allowing VIP rooms to remain half-smoking. The public floors would be equipped with non-gaming smoking rooms, similar to those provided in airports.
The prospect of a total ban has raised concerns among analysts. “Full bans in other markets have immediately impacted revenues by 10-20 percent year over year,” noted Wells Fargo’s Cameron McKnight.
“While the timing and probability of a complete ban is unclear, we believe the government will continue to collaborate with the operators and weigh the timing and implementation of smoking bans with the health of the industry,” he said.
