Beryl Smith Eins Her Fight with Echo to Have Non-Smoking High Roller Room at Jupiter

Source from:  Brisbane (QLD) Courier-Mai 11/05/2014

Echo Entertainment bosses yesterday confirmed separate high-roller rooms for non-smokers will be included in the $345 million revamp of Jupiters Casino.

The confirmation came after Mrs Smith on Friday gave Echo Entertainment bosses a roasting for allowing a smoking area in the high-roller room at Jupiters.

The feisty 87-year-old VIP gambler, who bets at least $3000 a day playing baccarat, blasted Echo's chairman John O'Neill, saying it was a health risk, and demanded of Echo bosses "what are you going to do about it?".

Mr O'Neill also copped a broadside when he admitted he had been unaware of the problem.

"Well, it shouldn't be news to you — you should know what's going on in this casino and how badly it's run," Mrs Smith said.

Yesterday, an Echo spokesman said: "Plans for the new integrated resort include the option of both smoking and non-smoking areas in our VIP gaming rooms."

The spokesman said this meant there would be a separate non-smoking room for high-roller players like Mrs Smith.

Echo also confirmed that currently 93 per cent of gaming machines and more than 70 per cent of gaming tables at Jupiters are located in non-smoking areas.

Mrs Smith said she was pleased Jupiters bosses were introducing non-smoking high-roller rooms but it was something they should have done long ago.

"It's elementary. They are only doing what they are required to do under health legislation," she said.

Mrs Smith said she had received a rousing round of applause from fellow high rollers for her stand when she returned to the high-roller's room at the weekend.

"My back is sore from all the slaps of approval I've been getting," she said. Enditem