government of Macau has announced today the latest details for the new VIP smoking lounges in the region's casinos.

Following legislation approved in July by the Legislative Assembly, venues will have to comply with a new regime on smoking in public spaces which will eventually prohibit smoking in the VIP gambling areas. However, operators could install free-of-gaming smoking lounges in the high-roller rooms.

According to the information published today by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng, gaming tables and slot machines must be at least 3 metres from the entrance to any smoking lounges. This distance can be reduced to 2 metres if there is a wall separating the smoking lounge from the rest of the casino.

Under the new guidelines, each smoking lounge must have a single entrance, with sliding doors and an automated system for opening and closing. It also requires the installment of smoke alarms and ‘negative pressure’ mechanisms that must be at a -5 Pascals when doors are closed.

Additionally, smoking in the venues will be suspended two hours prior to it being cleaned. Cleaning staff should wear protective masks to ensure workers’ health is not harmed by tobacco smoke in the workplace.

As the Health Bureau will be responsible for authorising and regulating smoking lounges in casinos, it demands that operators must include information about the dangers to health of smoking as well as information of the services provided by the Health Bureau to help people quit smoking.

Three years ago, back in 2014, Macau’s government ordered smoking to be banned from mass-market gambling areas. However, the Cotai District administration has tightened its smoking policy this year with the introduction of the new Regime on Tobacco Prevention and Control that forbids smoking in any gambling facility with the exception of the authorised lounges.