Smoking Will be Banned in Macau Casinos

Macau, the world largest center for gambling, has received the bad news. The government has decided to propose a full smoking ban in casinos, including the VIP rooms.

Macau’s revenue depends mostly on players from China - the world’s largest nation of consumers and producers of tobacco. It has been estimated that in 2012 China had about 281 million smokers which, at that moment ,was the highest number of smokers in the world in a single country. The partial ban that was put in place in 2013 in Macau had no huge impact on the casino operators because they moved the most productive tables into the smoking areas.

However, If the smoking ban passes, the smoking rooms, that are similar to airport-style rooms, won’t be allowed. The Health Bureau (SSM) is concerned about the health of residents, tourists and the casino-workers so their plan is to ban smoking in all areas of the casinos with no exceptions. The casino operators were hoping they would be allowed to keep the current smoking rooms but the government stand firmly in their plans and they don't seem open to suggestions.

Even though the gaming sector has explained that the smoking ban will have a significant impact on the gaming revenue, the government is committed to their plan, refusing to sacrifice health of visitors, residents and casino workers for more gaming revenue. Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng has added that smoking of electronic cigarettes is also prohibited in order to have a clear air in all properties of Macau.

Until beginning of 2015 smoking wasn't banned in venues such as discos, bars and karaoke parlous but it seems that 2015 is a year of changes for Macau. A significant increase in taxes will also be applied, as the current rate of 33% will go all the way up to 70% for a twenty-cigarette pack. Smoking in any banned public indoor venue will lead to paying a fine of almost 6,000 patacas (Macau currency).

Macau has already faced gaming revenue declines due to the crackdown on corruption by the Chinese government focused on junket operators. Despite the smoking ban, Macau still remains the world largest gambling center and the only legal casino market in China. The casino operators are afraid of losing its customers, but at the end of the day it seems that they will all have to deal with the changes and accept the fact that smoking will no longer be an option inside the casinos.