MGM Macau violates smoking regulations

Saturday 16th of July 2016

Casino operator MGM Macau may face an investigation from the health bureau due to recent violations of the city’s smoking ban in the property.

In a press statement from Macau’s Health Bureau, nine individuals were caught smoking in unauthorized areas inside the casino, and have been subsequently fined.

However, the Bureau also turned its attention to the property, which it said failed to put up anti-smoking signage.

“During the inspection it was noticed that some areas within the casino did not have the ‘no smoking’ signs required under the existing regulations,” said the bureau following a joint inspection on Thursday by the Health Bureau and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau

The bureau said it has issued an official notification and will be following up the case.

In October 2014, casinos were required to create enclosed smoking zones with negative pressure and ventilation systems, and banned smoking in mass market areas.

Recently, a full smoking ban bill, which proposes to prohibit smoking in all indoor areas of gaming venues, passed its first reading in the Legislative Assembly.

However, at the end of May, Macau’s Legislative Assembly voted in favor of smoking lounges as an alternative to a total smoking ban in the city’s gaming venues.

In the first six months of 2016, a total of 277 people were fined in Macau for smoking in non-designated areas inside the city’s casinos.

Bricks & Mortar Regulation & Legal Ban Smoking