Junket operators in Macau fear the smoking ban

The leading junket operators in Macau expressed their worries concerning the proposed full smoking ban

The Iao Kun Group Holdings Ltd. (IKGH), a junket operator in Macau and owner of a profit share in five VIP casino gaming rooms there, announced a 58% decline of rolling chip turnovers for the first half of 2015. The figures they presented are astonishing. However they prognosis for the future revenues are even more frightening, online gambling sites in US report.

The June results, according to them, present even worst trend than the one in the past six months, noting a fall of incredible 60%. The decrease, they warn, is going to be even higher if the proposed full smoking ban legislation that the government will debate today is going to accelerate the downfall of the Chinese gambling center.

Junket operators in Macau send an appeal to the government

Many junket operators including the SunCity Group, Jimei International Entertainment Group, Tak Chun, were complaining in the Macao Daily for the governmental proposal for a full smoking ban, gambling news report. They appealed to the government to reconsider their proposal and to see the harmful effects that such a general ban can have for the gambling industry in Macau.

In their appeal the junket operators also ask to maintain the VIP and smoking lounge exemptions. They assure that the air conditioning in the rooms is sufficient enough to reduce the damages of second hand smoking. However, Deutsche Bank estimated that the further loss of the VIP casino gaming rooms in Macau, in case this propose for smoking ban is accepted, will be additional USD 3.4 billion.