• Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, inspecting a smoking room at Studio City casino end of last year

New Casino Tobacco Control Law in Effect

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From 1st January 2019, smoking has been prohibited in all indoor areas in the airport and casinos, with the exception of smoking lounges authorised in accordance with the new rules of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Law. The Health Bureau’s (SSM) inspectors, together with Gaming Inspection and Co-ordination Bureau staff, have been conducting inspections in batches vis-a-vis the implementation of the new smoking ban laws in various casinos throughout Macao since the early hours of New Year’s day.

High standard requirements set by the new rules dictate that smoking lounges have one entrance or exit operating as an automatic sliding door. There must be a light signal and an alarm device near the entrance, while an independent ventilation system must be installed in smoking lounges, with negative air pressure exceeding five pascals when the door is closed. The air flow speed should be at least 0.1 m/s when the door of a smoking lounge is open and a statutory ‘smoking room permit’ sign is also required in the smoking room, as is a schematic diagram of the licensed smoking room placed outside the door.

According to SSM, as of 31st December 2018, applications had been approved for 378 smoking lounges. If casinos require additional smoking lounges they can apply to SSM to meet future needs. Any smoking lounges operating without SSM approval are considered non-smoking areas. SSM also noted that smoking lounge managers have the responsibility to comply with all tobacco control regulations, including ordering illegal smokers to immediately extinguish their cigarettes or cigars. According to the regulation, casinos are subject to a maximum fine of MOP200 thousand if they provide unapproved or unqualified smoking lounges, whereas individuals smoking in prohibited areas are subject to a MOP1500 fine.