• 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

Macau regulator clarifies new rules on casino smoking

Jul 04, 2014 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Macau regulator clarifies new rules on casino smoking

Macau casino operators will have to set up their VIP and premium mass rooms in “separate areas” or isolate them with “physical or architectural barriers” from the main casino  floor if smoking is to be allowed in those private rooms, said the city’s gaming regulator on Thursday.

It was a specific instruction on the new rules governing smoking in Macau casinos first announced in June. Those rules also state that all mass market casino floors in Macau must go smoke-free starting from October 6, following that month’s Golden Week holiday.

While operators will be allowed to build enclosed smoking lounges on their mass-market floors – without any gaming tables or slot machines inside – smoking in the open while on casino premises will only be  allowed in private areas. Those places must be of “limited access to specific games and gamblers”, the city’s Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) said in a instruction issued on Thursday.

That is understood to be for VIP or even certain premium mass areas. Several casinos already have separate rooms to serve these customers.

Access to these private rooms should only be allowed to patrons enrolled in the casino’s loyalty programmes and by showing a membership card, the gaming regulator said.

In these areas, players will only be allowed to smoke at the gaming table or electronic gaming machines, including slot machines, DICJ added. Gaming tables inside these rooms will need to have a ventilation system or a so-called ‘air curtain’, to protect the card dealers, it stated.

According to the government’s new rules, contained in dispatch 141/2014 from Macau’s Chief Executive, the size of the smoking areas in these private rooms together with the smoking lounges must be smaller than 50 percent of the overall gaming area of the casino.

Earlier this week, the deputy director of Macau’s Health Bureau, Cheang Seng Ip, said all six gaming operators had already separately submitted draft plans for the setting up of smoking lounges on mass gaming floors.

The government will establish a cross-departmental group to approve the plans. Approval should be completed before October 6, Mr Cheang told reporters.

There has been no indication of any casino declining to set up a smoking lounge or lounges for its mass floor, the official added. It had been reported in local media that several unnamed venues had been considering going smoke free in their mass areas. Mr Cheang said only one slot machine parlour had indicated it was considering going fully smoke free.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Light & Wonder to expand facilities in the Philippines: CEO
    Light & Wonder to expand...

    Sep 29, 2023  

  • ASEAN, China agree to jointly fight gambling-related crime
    ASEAN, China agree to jointly fight...

    Sep 27, 2023  

More news
  • Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets
    Sands China to revitalise firecracker...

    Sep 29, 2023  

  • Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale
    Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln...

    Sep 29, 2023  


Latest News

Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sands China to revitalise firecracker factory, old streets

Sep 29, 2023  

Macau casino operator Sands China Ltd is to add more cultural and tourism elements to the site of the old Iec Long Firecracker Factory and its surrounding areas in Taipa, as part of a government-led...
Read More
Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Bloomberry aims to raise up to US$99mln via share sale

Sep 29, 2023  

S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches 

S.Korea Daegu Casino fined US$776k for AML breaches 

Sep 29, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”The Philippines has been the primary growth driver, but really the broader Asian gaming industry is something that’s really important to us”

Matt Wilson

Chief executive of casino equipment provider Light & Wonder



Most Popular

  • International Ent to invest at least US$1bln in Manila IRInternational Ent to invest at least US$1bln in Manila IR September 28, 2023
  • Resorts World Sentosa fined again for AML rule breachesResorts World Sentosa fined again for AML rule breaches September 27, 2023
  • Galaxy Ent to build ice rink, bookshop at Macau old shipyardsGalaxy Ent to build ice rink, bookshop at Macau old… September 28, 2023
  • Events a boon, Citi ups Macau 4Q GGR forecast to US$6.5blnEvents a boon, Citi ups Macau 4Q GGR forecast to US$6.5bln September 27, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us