South Australia imposes smoking restrictions on high-rollers

South Australia has become the first Australian State to impose restrictions on smoking in casino high-roller or ‘VIP’ rooms.

Other States have so far shied away from tackling high-roller rooms, but under South Australia’s new laws they will be treated exactly the same as all other venues.

In their announcements on smoking, NSW, Queensland and Victoria are proposing exemptions for their high-roller rooms.

Health Minister Lea Stevens said the SA State Government decided there would be no exemptions or special treatment for casino “high-rollers” from the bans.

Minister Stevens hopes the other States will follow suit.

“South Australia has decided that everyone will be treated equally, and that includes casino VIP or high-roller rooms,” says Ms Stevens.

“The same restrictions will apply to those areas as all other parts of the casino – and that means no smoking at gaming tables.”

At South Australia’s casino, from Monday December 6 half the bars will be smoke-free, and no smoking will be allowed at gaming tables. A complete ban on smoking will apply throughout venues from the end of October 2007.

South Australia’s new laws, which were passed yesterday, will:

• phased bans on smoking in pubs, clubs, the casino and gaming rooms begin from Monday 6 December, with a complete ban in October 2007;

• make all other enclosed workplaces and enclosed public spaces smoke-free;

• remove the current exemptions on smoke-free dining;

• for the first time make employers liable if their employees sell cigarettes to children;

• further restrict the use of cigarette vending machines, making it even more difficult for children to access and use them; and

• ban the advertising of tobacco products in the course of a business and at point-of-sale (no more cigarette posters, lightboxes, oversized cigarette packs, or other advertising gimmicks).