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Smoking Banned in Australian Bingo Halls

"…Premier Peter Beattie said yesterday the total ban, which comes into effect on May 31, would ensure a healthier environment for all bingo players and a level playing field for the many charities and community groups that rely on fund-raising from bingo.

"`Our move will allay concerns that bingo players who smoke would abandon the charity games in halls and move to licensed premises unless the ban was extended,' he said.

"Clubs Queensland chief executive officer Penny Wilson said some venues might be forced to look at whether to continue to run bingo if smoking was not allowed.

"…The other laws also spell an end to smoking at gaming tables, but allow patrons of licensed premises to smoke at poker machines.

"A spokesman for Health Minister Wendy Edmond said this was because it was considered that staff did not have to work among the smokers on poker machines and would not be at such a risk from passive smoking as those on gaming tables.

"He said some casinos already had moved to introduce no-smoking areas for people wanting to avoid passive smoking while playing poker machines.

"Ms Edmond said the extension of the laws was important because many bingo players were older people who might have chronic lung disease which would be exacerbated by smoke…"

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