• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

600 smoking lounge requests expected, 233 in: Macau govt

Sep 24, 2018 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


600 smoking lounge requests expected, 233 in: Macau govt

The Macau government expects to receive about 600 applications from casinos to have smoking lounges approved under a new set of technical standards, said the head of the city’s Health Bureau, Lei Chin Ion.

Mr Lei added that just 16 of Macau’s 39 casinos in operation had so far submitted applications to have smoking lounges approved in line with the new rules.

The 16 gaming venues that had filed paperwork on the matter had made an aggregate of 233 requests for approval of smoking lounges, Mr Lei told reporters over the weekend.

Among the 233 requests, 10 smoking lounges in two gaming venues have been approved by the city’s authorities.

The first smoking lounge application approval was announced in April. It was submitted by casino hotel Ponte 16, a joint venture between casino operator SJM Holdings Ltd and Success Universe Group Ltd.

Studio City, operated by Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd, was the second of two Macau casino resorts to have been granted approval for new-style smoking lounges in the local market, the Health Bureau said in August.

All Macau gaming venues wanting to continue to offer on-site smoking to patrons must apply to the local authorities to operate the new, higher-standard lounges, said to have better air extraction equipment than is mandated under the current regulatory regime. From January 1, 2019, only authorised, enhanced, lounges will be permitted in the local market.

Macau’s gaming operators have to submit by September 28 any applications for new smoking lounges, in order for such requests to have a chance of being approved before the city’s new regime on smoking is enforced in casinos on January 1, Mr Lei said.

He justified the September 28 deadline on the basis of how long it would take to inspect and approve the smoking lounges with enhanced technical standards, as such approval involved a total of three government departments: the Health Bureau, the Fire Services Bureau and the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau.

Mr Lei added that the Health Bureau could not ensure applications for new smoking lounges filed after the September 28 deadline would be approved by January 1, 2019.

Macau’s Legislative Assembly passed on July 14, 2017 a revised bill on smoking that bans tableside tobacco use in VIP rooms – the only places in the Macau that were still allowing smoking at the gaming table. Although the new rules came into force on January 1, 2018, tableside smoking at VIP rooms will in effect be permitted until January 1, 2019, as casinos have been given a year’s grace period to set up smoking lounges for VIP players.

Under the revised law, all smoking lounges in casinos – including the existing ones set up on mass floors since the ban on free-for-all casino smoking – will also have to conform to enhanced technical standards.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Smoking patrols soar in casinos year to Oct: Macau govt
    Smoking patrols soar in casinos year to...

    Nov 11, 2019  

  • Macau casino smoking lounges hit 600-mark
    Macau casino smoking lounges hit...

    Oct 11, 2019  

More news
  • Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket says tourism boss
    Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket...

    Mar 27, 2023  

  • Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO
    Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy...

    Mar 27, 2023  


Latest News

Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket says tourism boss

Foreigners can use HK-Macau free ticket says tourism boss

Mar 27, 2023  

Tourists from overseas travelling to Macau via Hong Kong will also be eligible for a free single-leg journey by bus or ferry from participating carriers, said on Monday Macau’s tourism boss. Maria...
Read More
Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO

Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO

Mar 27, 2023  

Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks

Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks

Mar 27, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”Human capital constraints and skill gaps pose a key challenge for Macau to substantially reduce its high dependence on the gaming industry”

George Xu, Andrew Fennell and Jan Friederich

Analysts at Fitch Ratings



Most Popular

  • Macau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: FitchMacau diversification into non-gaming to remain slow: Fitch March 24, 2023
  • Sands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens routeSands China woos Singaporeans as Air Macau opens route March 23, 2023
  • Melco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checksMelco’s Studio City has foreigner-only bet zone: checks March 27, 2023
  • Raffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTORaffles hotel checks complete at Galaxy Phase 3: MGTO March 27, 2023
  • Main-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorpMain-building work at Naga 3 begins mid-2023: NagaCorp March 24, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us