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Aggrieved gamblers, upset by a ban on smoking introduced in Victoria's
gaming establishments earlier this year, forced Tabcorp to issue a veiled profit
warning after the market closed yesterday.
For the five months to November 30, revenue from the group's gaming division
was down 8.8 per cent compared with the same period last year.
That compares with a 6.6 per cent decline announced at the annual general
meeting in October.
Tabcorp managing director Matthew Slatter said: ``The gaming division has
traditionally experienced seasonal growth during the period from October through
to Christmas, however, after the initial decline following the introduction of
the smoking bans, weekly gaming revenue has remained relatively flat."
Research carried out by Tabcorp since the introduction of the ban found that
customers who smoke are playing less often and for shorter periods.
``Reasons cited include inadequate smoking facilities in venues, limitations
on customers' ability to reserve machines and smokers feeling aggrieved at being
targeted as a group," Mr Slatter said.
Tabcorp said it was working with its venue partners on a number of measures
aimed at improving the appeal of its venues and gaming products for smoking
customers.
``These focus on providing attractive areas adjacent to gaming rooms where
customers can smoke, personalised machine reservation systems and service
programs designed to ensure that customers who smoke feel they are valued," Mr
Slatter said.
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