Get Over It: Smoking Bans Will Be Good For Business

Congratulations to the Victorian and New South Wales governments for banning smoking in all licensed venues. This means that smoking will be banned in all clubs and pubs including gaming rooms from July 2007. No more smoking in bars. No more smoking rooms. Nothing Nada Zilch.

However is this a gaming issue? Not really - It actually is a health issue. So why are industry groups such as the Australian Hotels Association and Clubs Victoria whining? Because maybe people with addictive personalities won't have a sancutuary in which to indulge, causing harm not only to themselves and others.

The industry need to get over it. Put simply the facts are that only a minority of the community smoke. Also where smoking bans have been introduced overseas, such as in Ireland and New York, patronage has in fact increased not reduced.

Also why is it that in Victoria only the gaming venues and industry are complaining? The Victorian ban applies to all buildings apart from private homes. This means you can't smoke anywhere inside such as a train station waiting room, coffee lounge or amusement arcade. Restaurants have had the ban for some time and they haven't suffered.

Could the issue then have to do with problem gamblers who anecdotally have also often been heavy smokers?

Smoking is bad for you - guaranteed. Gambling may be bad for you - if you make the wrong choices, but at least a side effect of gambling is no longer exposure to second hand smoke.

Also personally speaking as someone who regularly attends venues to deliver information and education sessions to staff, I welcome being able to breathe when I go to a venue, and not stink of tobacco smoke when I leave.

Just to conclude, can Crown Casino be any more hypocritical than complaining about the smoking bans while taking advantage of smoke free areas:

In its 2003/04 annual report, Crown stated that a new smoke-free gaming area, "designed to enhance customer loyalty to Crown", was a "key driver" behind its strong performance.

Get over it gaming industry! Smoking is a health issue and whether you like it or not you will actually eventually profit from the smoking ban.

GG