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NORTON'S NOTES: Macau Smoking Compromise
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by Steve Norton
CEO, Norton Management
GGRAsia – Macau govt’s own smoking lounge plan doable: SJM’s So
My comment:
This compromise is better than a total smoking ban at Macao casinos; but by not allowing the same air handling in the high limit rooms; the per person spend will most likely decline. When Illinois introduced their smoking ban, the win per customer declined by 14%, from 2007 to 2010, at Greater Chicago's 4 casinos. Since the customer counts at the riverboat casinos also include non smokers, the actual impact is higher than the 14% reported. I would hope that some Macao casinos have previous customer numbers in the VIP rooms, so that they can compare the impact that smoking breaks will have on patrons having to leave their games to enjoy a cigarette.
CEO, Norton Management
GGRAsia – Macau govt’s own smoking lounge plan doable: SJM’s So
My comment:
This compromise is better than a total smoking ban at Macao casinos; but by not allowing the same air handling in the high limit rooms; the per person spend will most likely decline. When Illinois introduced their smoking ban, the win per customer declined by 14%, from 2007 to 2010, at Greater Chicago's 4 casinos. Since the customer counts at the riverboat casinos also include non smokers, the actual impact is higher than the 14% reported. I would hope that some Macao casinos have previous customer numbers in the VIP rooms, so that they can compare the impact that smoking breaks will have on patrons having to leave their games to enjoy a cigarette.