Smoking still allowed in VIP rooms
A group of casino employees at Wynn Macau have submitted a petition to the MSAR government, complaining that the company allows patrons to smoke in breach of the law; has provided ashtrays and lighters for their convenience; and also warned them in advance when the Office for the Prevention and Control of Tobacco plans to inspect the property.
According to the Asia Gaming Brief, Choi Kam Fu, director general of the Macau Gaming Enterprises Staff Association, said the petitioners went to Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On to discuss “long-term infractions which have not yet been solved.”
“The company spoils some customers by allowing them to smoke in the mass area,” Choi said. He added that some workers who tried to curb smoking among customers were moved to less desirable positions at the casino.
“The company has the responsibility and obligation to assist workers in persuading or banning illegally smoking customers and not spoiling the customers as it does now, not telling them customers to hide their smoking tools when the company knows that tobacco control officers are arriving,” he said. “This situation must change.”
Choi wants the government to let workers access closed-circuit TV records to prove instances of illegal smoking. “Because, in most cases, the smoker would finish smoking by the time the inspectors come,” said Choi.
Legislators Ella Lei Cheng I and Leong Sun Iok joined the group in delivering the petition to officials. The legislators represent the Federation of Trade Unions in the Legislative Assembly.
According to GGRAsia, inspectors reported no instances of unlawful smoking areas inside the two casinos operated by Wynn Macau Ltd.
In October 2014, the Macau government banned smoking on casino mass floors, though patrons can still light up in enclosed smoking lounges and VIP rooms.
