Whilst Victoria premier Steve Bracks was being grilled by the opposition leader over possible interference in the selection process for the new lotteries and pokies licence, Crown Casino in the Victorian capital Melbourne was being accused of dodging the smoking ban. The casino has exemption from the ban for its international high roller salons, but local smokers are also using these gaming areas. The Teak and Oak rooms have permission to be designated high roller rooms for the use of wealthy international gamblers and smoking is allowed.

The Victorian state government defined a high roller room in its legislation as one used substantially by international gamblers. Such rooms are exempted from both the current smoking bans and stricter regulations due to come into force in July 2007. Local players in Crown Casino’s Teak and Oak rooms far outnumber any from overseas. The government made the exemption on the grounds of international revenue and Crown maintains that tens of millions of dollars have been lost in the high roller rooms by international gamblers.

The billion-dollar poker machine and lotteries licences are due for renewal but will not be approved before the end of November. Opposition politicians are asking whether Tattersall’s and TABCorp had been told that their gaming machine duopoly would continue beyond the expiry of their licences and get priority for future licences. Mr Bracks and Gaming Minister John Pandazopoulos deny that the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation has made any recommendation or that the licence tender process has been completed. (E-10.05.06)

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