Junkets warn of effects of total Macau smoking ban

The Association of Gaming and Entertainment Promoters, which represents junket operators in Macau, said that a recent industry survey showed respondents were overwhelmingly in favor of retaining smoking rooms in casinos to shore up revenue.

The survey found that 99 percent of 12,518 respondents were in favor of the rooms and believed that a universal ban would further harm revenue and employment, according to a local media report.

Association president Kwok Chi Chung said 90 percent of gamblers smoked, the report said, adding the survey wasn’t clear on who the respondents were.

Macau banned smoking in all mass market sections of its casinos in October last year, apart from in designated smoking rooms and in VIP areas. The government is now said to be considering a more complete ban.

Analysts agree that stopping smoking has been one of many contributing factors to the plunge in gross gambling revenue in Macau, which has fallen for each of the past 11 months.