Mass area smoking ban starts today

Clients of local casinos will no longer be allowed to smoke in mass public areas, following the smoking ban that came into force at 12 a.m. today. VIP rooms will be the only locations where guests can smoke.
Six local casino operators proposed last year that the Macau government  construct smoking rooms in their mass areas, which will be sealed and have separate ventilation, when the smoking ban is in place.
So far, the Health Bureau (SSM) has received the work plans from 28 casinos to construct 62 smoking rooms. The authorities have already inspected and approved smoking rooms in12 casinos. SSM said in a press release that the rest of the casinos are either not finishing their projects or waiting for a third party to certify the constructions. Some casinos did not even have their plans approved by the authorities before starting construction.
It was previously pointed out by the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM) that some casinos were trying to convert high-betting areas into VIP rooms and allowing guests to smoke there.SSM stressed that there will be no other smoking areas except those already approved.
The public has urged the government to enforce the law properly and should consider a total smoking ban in casinos, including the VIP rooms.
Lawmaker and FAOM vice-president Lei Cheng I told TDM that merely banning smoking in the mass areas is not meeting their expectations. She hopes that the authorities will supervise the casinos and properly enforce the law in future. She also believes that the government should consider a total smoking ban in casinos when it reviews the Legislation on Tobacco Control and Prevention next year.
Forefront of Macau Gaming president Ieong Man Teng said that some casino employees are worried that the authorities will not be able to strenuously enforce the law. He called on the government to set up smoking rooms in VIP areas to protect the health of all casino employees.