• 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

Staff cooperation needed for VIP smoking: MGM Macau boss

May 28, 2014 Newsdesk Latest News, Macau, Top of the deck  


Staff cooperation needed for VIP smoking: MGM Macau boss

Grant Bowie, chief executive of Macau-based casino operator MGM China Holdings Ltd,  says staffing VIP gambling rooms – where smoking will still be permitted after it is banned from mass floors from October 6 – needs to be a “collaborative” effort, bringing together workers and operators.

All mass-market casino floors in Macau must go smoke-free from October 6, the government announced earlier this month. Current regulations – in place since January 2013 – allow operators to set up smoking zones on the main floors of casinos comprising up to 50 percent of the gaming floor space.

Smoking zones inside VIP rooms will still be allowed after October 6, meaning high rollers will still be able to smoke while gambling.

Many dealers seem however unwilling to work in VIP rooms once the mass-market smoking ban is implemented, suggests a Macau-government sponsored survey.

The results, announced on Sunday, indicate that 58.4 percent of casino workers were unwilling to work in VIP rooms after the full smoking ban comes into effect on the mass-market floors. But some 12.7 percent of these casino workers would be willing to change their mind in exchange for a special allowance.

Asked by reporters on Tuesday if he feared MGM China would face difficulties in staffing its VIP rooms at casino-resort MGM Macau once the full mass-market smoking ban is in place, Mr Bowie replied: “We are confident that we can work with our team.”

He added: “What we are looking towards is a more holistic plan in terms of managing the situation, working through with our team members and ensuring that we come to a collaborative solution that accommodates the workers but also addresses the desires of the customers as well.”

Mr Bowie said it was “too early” to forecast the impact of the full mass-market smoking ban on casino gross gaming revenue. “Obviously this is a very important initiative and we need to work through [it] carefully,” he said.

Several analysts forecast the ban will have no measurable effect on gross gaming revenue.

Under the government’s proposal, all operators will be allowed to build smoking rooms on their mass-market floors, but without any gaming tables or slot machines inside. In theory they would be similar to smoking rooms found at major airports.

Mr Bowie stressed that the opinions of gamblers need to be considered. “We always must remember that Macau is dependent on the consumers to actually generate the income, generate the taxes.”

Health Bureau director Lei Chin Ion confirmed on Tuesday that two gaming venues have already informed the government that they will not set up any smoking rooms on their mass floors due to lack of proper infrastructure. That will mean that any customer that wants to smoke in those facilities will have to go outdoors.

Mr Lei said “some” casinos had already submitted draft proposals to set up enclosed smoking rooms on their mass floors, but he did not disclose further details.

Quizzed on that point by reporters, Mr Bowie did not confirm whether MGM Macau had already submitted its proposal for such facilities. He said only that MGM China was continuously working with the government on this issue.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Gaming-linked crime in Macau up 24pct y-o-y in 1Q: govt
    Gaming-linked crime in Macau up 24pct...

    Jun 08, 2023  

  • China Politburo meeting key for any policy shift: UBS
    China Politburo meeting key for any...

    Jun 07, 2023  

More news
  • No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt
    No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate...

    Jun 09, 2023  

  • IGT casino, digital biz listing has potential: analyst
    IGT casino, digital biz listing has...

    Jun 09, 2023  


Latest News

No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt

No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt

Jun 09, 2023  

None of Macau’s six gaming concessionaires have so far applied for a form of “exemption” from the full 40-percent tax rate on casino gross gaming revenue (GGR), as potentially applicable...
Read More
IGT casino, digital biz listing has potential: analyst

IGT casino, digital biz listing has potential: analyst

Jun 09, 2023  

G2E Asia 2023: Singapore

  • Jackpot tech focus on tables not just slots: Paltronics
    Jackpot tech focus on tables not just slots: Paltronics

    Jun 09, 2023  

    Commercial opportunities for utilisation of...
  • Konami taps market-tried slots to refresh Asia op offer
    Konami taps market-tried slots to refresh Asia op offer

    Jun 08, 2023  

    Gaming content and equipment maker Konami says it is...
  • L&W building game content across 3 pillars: Ken Jolly
    L&W building game content across 3 pillars: Ken Jolly

    Jun 07, 2023  

    Casino gaming content and hardware provider Light &...
  • ETGs rapid growth segment in Asia: Interblock Michael Hu
    ETGs rapid growth segment in Asia: Interblock Michael Hu

    Jun 06, 2023  

    Electronic table games (ETGs) supplier Interblock dd is...
  • GLI offering RNG test tools, cybersecurity demand growing
    GLI offering RNG test tools, cybersecurity demand growing

    Jun 05, 2023  

    Random number generator (RNG) testing tools are among the...
  • Alfastreet’s new Verso cabinet heading to Asian markets
    Alfastreet’s new Verso cabinet heading to Asian markets

    Jun 01, 2023  

    Alfastreet, a manufacturer of electronic gaming machines,...
  • Sega Sammy Creation growing land-based, eyes online
    Sega Sammy Creation growing land-based, eyes online

    Jun 01, 2023  

    Casino equipment maker Sega Sammy Creation Inc is tweaking...
  • iGaming growing in Asia, ops tackling challenges: Uplatform
    iGaming growing in Asia, ops tackling challenges: Uplatform

    Jun 01, 2023  

    The iGaming segment in Asia “has grown rapidly” since...
  • ‘See before you play’ slot marketing tool, say tech suppliers
    ‘See before you play’ slot marketing tool, say tech...

    May 31, 2023  

    Showing slot machine players – via animations on the...
  • Macau stocks tied to China outlook: Bloomberg analyst
    Macau stocks tied to China outlook: Bloomberg analyst

    May 31, 2023  

    Macau stocks in likelihood “have been punished too much...
  • Investors still eye possible fresh IR locations in Japan: scholar
    Investors still eye possible fresh IR locations in Japan:...

    May 31, 2023  

    There are foreign companies still interested in investing...
  • Thai casino law possible in 2024, IR in 2030: govt adviser
    Thai casino law possible in 2024, IR in 2030: govt adviser

    May 31, 2023  

    Thailand could pass the necessary enabling legislation for...
  • China still ‘critical’ to Asian markets: G2E Asia panel
    China still ‘critical’ to Asian markets: G2E Asia panel

    May 30, 2023  

    China will remain a key market for Asian gaming...
  • Much interest in state casinos sale, says Pagcor boss Tengco
    Much interest in state casinos sale, says Pagcor boss

    May 30, 2023  

    Alejandro Tengco (pictured in a file photo), chairman and...
  • Gaming industry in for a very exciting period: Bill Miller
    Gaming industry in for a very exciting period: Bill Miller

    May 30, 2023  

    There are “plenty of reasons” for the global gaming...
  • IGT flags route to high-performing games for Asia
    IGT flags route to high-performing games for Asia

    May 30, 2023  

    Gaming equipment provider International Game Technology Plc...
  • G2E Singapore trade show, conference begins today
    G2E Singapore trade show, conference begins today

    May 30, 2023  

    The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2023 Special Edition:...
  • Novomatic’s Black Edition II cabinets at G2E in Singapore
    Novomatic’s Black Edition II cabinets at G2E in Singapore

    May 29, 2023  

    Austria-based gaming equipment maker and operator Novomatic...
  • Uplatform to show latest iGaming products at G2E Singapore
    Uplatform to show latest iGaming products at G2E Singapore

    May 25, 2023  

    Sports betting and online casino operating platform...
  • L&W ambition to be No1 in Asia well on its way: SVP gaming
    L&W ambition to be No1 in Asia well on its way: SVP...

    May 24, 2023  

    The business performance in Asia of gaming content and...
  • G2E Singapore expecting 6k visitors, 100+ exhibitors
    G2E Singapore expecting 6k visitors, 100+ exhibitors

    May 18, 2023  

    The organisers of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2023...
  • ‘Dragon Unleashed’ slot link by L&W at G2E in Singapore
    ‘Dragon Unleashed’ slot link by L&W at G2E in...

    May 17, 2023  

    Gaming content and equipment supplier Light & Wonder...
  • Sega Sammy Creation new multi-ETG at G2E in Singapore
    Sega Sammy Creation new multi-ETG at G2E in Singapore

    May 16, 2023  

    Casino equipment maker Sega Sammy Creation Inc is to...
  • Aristocrat at G2E Asia in Singapore previews Year of Dragon
    Aristocrat at G2E Asia in Singapore previews Year of Dragon

    May 09, 2023  

    Casino slot machine and digital gaming content provider...
  • IGT ‘Prosperity’ link in Asia show debut G2E in Singapore
    IGT ‘Prosperity’ link in Asia show debut G2E in...

    May 05, 2023  

    The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia event in Singapore is the...
  • Thai parliament adviser on casinos attending G2E Singapore
    Thai parliament adviser on casinos attending G2E Singapore

    May 04, 2023  

    An adviser to a Thailand parliamentary committee mulling...

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”We believe the intrinsic value of IGT’s market-leading businesses and diversified cash flow profile is not currently reflected in our stock price and the timing is right to assess opportunities that may enhance value for IGT’s shareholders”

Marco Sala

Executive chair of casino equipment supplier IGT



Most Popular

  • China Politburo meeting key for any policy shift: UBSChina Politburo meeting key for any policy shift: UBS June 7, 2023
  • No Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govtNo Macau op yet asked GGR tax rate exemption: govt June 9, 2023
  • Suntrust to get up to US$446mln loan from local bankSuntrust to get up to US$446mln loan from local bank June 9, 2023

Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us