Macau (MNA) – A total of 27 casino venues in Macau have applied for 404 licences to operate smoking lounges inside their premises, the Health Bureau (SS) has announced.
The number has considerably increased from a week before when only 233 applications had been received by the Bureau.
The requests made by the 27 casinos – out of a total of 47 – were filed until September 28 (Friday) and include properties controlled by the six gaming operators.
The Bureau noted that following the enactment of the smoking ban on casinos on January 1, 2019, only gaming venues which have made new applications under the updated regulations required by the Macau SAR Government will be allowed to operate after that date.
Currently, the number of smoking lounges approved under the new regulations by the health authority amounts to 12, allocated to three different casinos, namely, Ponte 16, a property of SJM Holdings, and City of Dreams and Studio city, both operated by Melco Resorts & Entertainment.
