Call for smokefree gambling to protect health

Responsible gaming policy should end partial smoke bans

NSW gambling impact groups have joined with health and employee organisations in calling on the new Premier and the Ministers for Health and Gaming to ensure gaming venues become quickly smokefree - to end secondhand smoke harm to gamblers’ health.

Since partial smoke bans came into force in NSW last month, gaming rooms set aside as smoking rooms have increased harm to many gamblers and staff in these areas.

And proposals being considered by the government would allow mostly-enclosed and serviced smoking areas to continue even after the long July-2007 “smokefree” licensed venues deadline.

The NSW Council on Problem Gambling and the Gambling Impact Society of NSW have joined with the SmokeFree Australia coalition to urge Premier Morris Iemma, Health Minister John Hatzistergos and Gaming Minister Grant McBride to implement a responsible gaming policy to ensure staff and patrons in gaming areas are fully protected from the serious harm caused by secondhand smoke.

Says Dr Clive Allcock, President of the Council on Problem Gambling: “If smoking continues to be permitted in mostly-enclosed areas, the experience of the partial bans so far is that many venues will put gaming machines in these areas. The result will be to expose problem gamblers, who gamble longer and more often than regular gamblers, to a proportionally greater risk than that faced by regular gamblers of diseases such as heart attacks, cancer and other ills caused by smoking."

Kate Roberts, Chairperson of the Gambling Impact Society (NSW) Inc adds: “It would be unfair and irresponsible to exploit gamblers and continue harming their health in pursuit of perceived gaming profits. Gamblers are entitled to the same health protection other citizens enjoy.”

The SmokeFree Australia coalition is particularly concerned with the health harm to workers in gaming areas. The coalition has criticised the long delay in total indoor bans, and proposals to weaken the bans by allowing mostly-enclosed smoking rooms.

Says coalition co-ordinator Stafford Sanders: “No-one should be expected to work in smoky areas, however enclosed or not. Hospitality workers have already copped enough damage from this workplace hazard – it’s time they were given the same protection other workers enjoy.”

Comment: Dr Clive Allcock, NSW Council on Problem Gambling ph. (02) 9840-3000 m. 0419-974-592

Kate Roberts, Gambling Impact Society (NSW) Inc ph. (02) 4448-8023

Comment / media info: Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree Australiaph. (02) 9334-1823 m. 0412-070-194

* SmokeFree Australia coalition for safe clean workplaces (see weblink: http://www.ashaust.org.au/SF%2703/ )

Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union; Musicians’ Union of Australia; Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Australian Council of Trade Unions; Action on Smoking and Health Australia; The Cancer Council Australia;

National Heart Foundation of Australia; Australian Council on Smoking and Health;

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