In Macau, the giant MGM Cotai integrated casino resort from MGM China Holdings Limited has reportedly become the latest gambling venue to have had its new-style smoking lounges approved by the city’s Health Bureau.

Growing group:

According to a report, the consent was announced yesterday after being officially granted at the conclusion of last month and means that Macau now has some 546 of the tobacco-friendly facilities spread across an estate of 31 casinos.

Extension ends:

Under the Regime on Tobacco Prevention and Control system that was approved by Macau’s 33-member Legislative Assembly in July of 2017, public smoking was to be banned within every one of the enclave’s 47 casinos from the first day of 2018. However, this measure contained a provision that granted such venues a twelve-month grace period so that they could construct new airtight lounges for customers wishing to enjoy a cigarette during a break in play.

‘Big Six’ compliance:

GGRAsia reported that this recent consent means that every one of Macau’s ‘big six’ casino operators, which moreover encompass Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited, SJM Holdings Limited and Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited as well as the local Sands China Limited and Wynn Macau Limited subordinates of Las Vegas Sands Corporation and Wynn Resorts Limited respectively, now offer at least one venue featuring officially-sanctioned smoking lounges.

Majority owned by Las Vegas-headquartered casino giant MGM Resorts International, Hong Kong-listed MGM China Holdings Limited opened its $3.4 billion MGM Cotai in February of 2018 and recently added a block of high-end Mansion-branded villas to the Cotai Strip venue.

Flouters flagged:

GGRAsia reportedly cited official Heath Bureau data as detailing that L’Arc Macau was one of the biggest recent rule breakers when it came to Macau casinos that were continuing to allow their customers to smoke while playing. The official information purportedly revealed that last month alone had seen government inspectors hand out 596 warnings to people within the property run under a license from SJM Holdings Limited after having conducted some 660 patrols.