Health groups have blasted a bid by James Packer's Crown Limited to allow smoking across the entire gaming floor of its proposed Sydney casino, an area that could be as large as two and a half rugby league fields.
Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said the move was "extremely concerning" and accused Crown of "putting profit before the health of their staff and consumers".
NSW Cancer Council manager of tobacco control Scot Walsberger said the organisation was "disappointed" in the NSW government's conditional approval of the proposal and said potential employees would have to choose "between a job at the casino and their health".
Crown's proposal, conditionally accepted by NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell on Thursday, describes allowing smoking in the gaming area as "absolutely critical". The company has proposed a 24 hour-a-day gaming area of up to 20,000 square metres – about the size of the MCG playing surface and slightly bigger than that of the SCG.
"It's such a backward step considering that we've had smokefree workplaces in this country across different states for probably two decades," Ms Sharkie said.
"We don't think there should be exemptions for high-roller rooms – they're still exposing workers to enormous harms."
In a letter to the NSW Government, released by Crown on Thursday, Mr Packer said: "In order to effectively compete with Macau, Singapore and the rest of Asia, Crown Sydney will need to permit smoking in VIP gaming areas."
Crown's Sydney rival, The Star, enjoys a similar exemption from NSW laws in its high roller areas and Crown's Melbourne high-roller area, the Mahogany Room, is exempt from Victorian anti-smoking laws.
Mr Packer said Crown had struck a deal with union United Voice "in relation to the issue of installing and maintaining state-of-the-art air quality technology".
However, Ms Sharkie said there was "no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke".
"The research shows you need a tornado-like suction to be of any benefit, so the risk of harm is very high – they don't work, these curtains or ventilation devices.
A Crown spokesman said the company "takes the issue of staff occupational health and safety extremely seriously".
"A surgical operating theatre requires at least 20 air exchanges an hour, Crown's investment in state of the art air filtration ensures we are in excess of 30 exchanges," he said.
The entire Sydney gaming floor at Crown's proposed Sydney casino is to be a "VIP gaming area", with entry restricted to members and a minimum bet per hand of $20.
However, Ms Sharkie said she was sceptical of moves to restrict access by the general public.
"I don't think they would really be filled with extremely wealthy international gamblers because I don't think they're going to need 20,000 square metres," she said.
"So I don't know how the casino is defining a VIP, but we are aware here [in Victoria] that it's pretty easy to get a VIP pass to Crown."
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Crown proposes the gaming area will operate "24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year" with "no limit on the number of table games".
Dealers are to operate traditional baccarat, blackjack and roulette tables but there are also to be "semi-automated table games and fully automated table games".
Crown says it will offer some non-smoking gaming tables, "reflecting the preferences of some VIP gaming customers".
Under a memorandum of understanding reached with union United Voice, air quality is to be tested every three months and the results reported to health and safety representatives.
The test results are to be handed over to the government and an annual report tabled in NSW Parliament.
Mr Walsberger called on the states to join together in a national ban on smoking in high-roller rooms.
"The disappointment here is that we aren't even sticking with the status quo, we're offering a new, very large casino in a very large space to get this additional exemption."
On Thursday, Crown's proposal advanced to stage three of the NSW government's approval process for "unsolicited proposals", which the government said "involves the finalisation of all outstanding issues with a view to entering into a binding agreement, if the government decides to accept the final offer".
Fairfax Media has approached United Voice for comment.
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