The Government took heed of the consultation for amending the New Regime of Tobacco Prevention and Control, which included banning smoking in casinos, said Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng.

He said the Government was open to all opinions; if the poll showed the majority were in favour of smoking lounges in VIP rooms, the Government would study the lounges’ safety standard proposed by the sector.

Mr Tam stressed the Government would consider moving forward only when the proposal was accepted by casino workers.

Speaking to reporters on 6 August, Mr Tam re-iterated that banning smoking in casinos was in bids to further protect health of the people, tourists and especially casino workers.

When asked, the Secretary said the Government would consider cancelling smoking lounges in airport, since such policy was already adopted in many places in the world.

The consultation, organised by a standing committee of the Legislative Assembly, will end on 30 September. Opinion can be delivered to the committee through the Assembly’s website (http://al.gov.mo/).

The New Regime of Tobacco Prevention and Control came into effect since 1 January 2012, banning smoking in public indoor areas such as schools, health institutes, workplaces and factories. Beginning from 2015, smoking is also banned in all bars, dancehalls, saunas and massage parlours.