Macau casinos face smoking ban push as revenues decline

Macau casino workers demand total one-day smoking ban amid revenue slump

Casino workers in Macau are pushing for a strict one-day smoking ban across all 33 venues. The proposal, set for May 1, would outlaw smoking even in designated lounges and VIP rooms. Labour groups argue that current measures have failed to protect staff from secondhand smoke exposure. Macau’s gambling industry has faced years of decline since 2015. Chinese government crackdowns on junket operators—who bring high rollers to casinos—have cut into revenues. In 2013, the region earned $45.2 billion from gambling, dwarfing Las Vegas’ $11.1 billion. But recent forecasts predict another 15 percent drop in the next year.

The latest financial reports show further strain. Las Vegas Sands, which operates the Venetian Macao Resort, Sands Macao, and Sands Cotai Central, missed first-quarter targets by 5.72 percent. Revenues in Macau fell nearly eight percent compared to last year, partly due to weaker VIP play. On Thursday, the company’s shares dropped over 10 percent in early trading. Labour groups like the Macau Gaming Enterprises Staff’s Association (MGESA) and Forefront of Macau Gaming are now demanding action. MGESA Director Choi Kam Fu questioned whether existing smoking lounges actually work. He also raised concerns about lax enforcement, claiming staff remain exposed to harmful smoke on the job.

If approved, the May 1 ban would mark the first full indoor smoking prohibition in Macau’s casinos. The move comes as the industry grapples with shrinking revenues and growing pressure to improve worker conditions. Casino operators now face both financial challenges and potential regulatory changes in the months ahead.