Tue, Sep 7, 2010
Tobacco Reporter Magazine Content:
Outdoor gambling halts pubs’ losing streak
Dec 21, 2009—Poker machine revenues in Australia are beginning to recover from the effects of indoor smoking bans, but pub owners are having to invest millions of dollars building suitable outdoor areas, according to a report in The Australian.
A report by the federal government's Productivity Commission found that in the year to June the decline in poker machine spending across the nation had begun to ease, with some states showing a reversal.
And the director of CB Richard Ellis pubs, Joel Fisher, was quoted as saying that pub poker machine revenues in the states of New South Wales and Queensland were beginning to recover from the total indoor smoking bans implemented in 2006 and 2007. Poker machine revenues, which slumped nationally from mid-2007, were now increasing, with pubs reporting gains of between two and five per cent this calendar year, he said.
Nevertheless, there must be some concern about an Australian Broadcasting Corp story earlier this month indicating that smoking will be banned in outdoor dining and drinking areas in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) within 12 months. Tobacco smoking is already banned in enclosed areas, but the new law, passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly, will extend that to outside areas. Although pubs and clubs will be able to designate outdoor smoking areas of not more than 50 per cent of their outdoor space, no food and drink will be permitted in those areas.
Presumably, any gains by the pubs will be wiped out and investments rendered useless if outdoor bans spread from the ACT to the states.
Dec 21, 2009—Poker machine revenues in Australia are beginning to recover from the effects of indoor smoking bans, but pub owners are having to invest millions of dollars building suitable outdoor areas, according to a report in The Australian.
A report by the federal government's Productivity Commission found that in the year to June the decline in poker machine spending across the nation had begun to ease, with some states showing a reversal.
And the director of CB Richard Ellis pubs, Joel Fisher, was quoted as saying that pub poker machine revenues in the states of New South Wales and Queensland were beginning to recover from the total indoor smoking bans implemented in 2006 and 2007. Poker machine revenues, which slumped nationally from mid-2007, were now increasing, with pubs reporting gains of between two and five per cent this calendar year, he said.
Nevertheless, there must be some concern about an Australian Broadcasting Corp story earlier this month indicating that smoking will be banned in outdoor dining and drinking areas in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) within 12 months. Tobacco smoking is already banned in enclosed areas, but the new law, passed by the ACT Legislative Assembly, will extend that to outside areas. Although pubs and clubs will be able to designate outdoor smoking areas of not more than 50 per cent of their outdoor space, no food and drink will be permitted in those areas.
Presumably, any gains by the pubs will be wiped out and investments rendered useless if outdoor bans spread from the ACT to the states.
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