Morgan Stanley analysts led by Praveen Choudhary wrote earlier this week that the current consensus estimate for revenue growth next year is 11 percent, but that the ban on smoking for half of Macau’s casino floor areas, could push growth to a “single-digit” rate.
The partial ban on smoking in casinos comes into effect on January 1. Casinos can designate up to half of their gaming floors as smoking areas. In contrast, smoking is not allowed anywhere in restaurants and cafes.
Casinos are allowed smoking areas because the authorities were persuaded that a complete ban on smoking would be bad for the gaming business in particular and the economy in general.