Million-a-year high-roller tells Jupiters Casino to stop gambling with my health

A HIGH-roller who bets $3000 a day has berated Jupiters Casino bosses for allowing smoking in their swanky gambling rooms

Assignment Freelance Picture Beryl Smith

AN 87-year-old high roller is spitting chips at casino bosses after having to stomach smoke-filled rooms each time she hits the big stakes tables.

Beryl Smith, who spends at least $3000 a day at baccarat, gave Echo Entertainment heavies a broadside Friday, saying the conditions for VIP gamblers at Jupiters Casino were a “health risk” and “what are you going to do about it?”.

“I’m a high roller,” the long-time shareholder told Echo’s annual meeting at Broadbeach yesterday. “I have played here for years, usually every day and I cash in a large amount of money.

“But in the high-rollers room, in this casino, the smoking area is in the same room.

“It’s ridiculous, we are just inundated with smoke.

“You can’t even get to the door to go into the room and you’re covered in smoke.

“It’s a health risk and it should not be allowed.

“Now I want to know what are you going to do about it.”

Echo Entertainment CEO Matt Bekier at the AGM. Pics Tim Marsden

Mrs Smith, who says she never carries cash and has an account with the casino, has lived on the Gold Coast for more than 20 years and amassed her wealth via canny share deals. “Every time I saved $500 cash I bought shares,’’ she said.

Every other Echo casino had separate high-roller rooms for smokers and nonsmokers, she said.

“Brisbane has a high-roller room for table players which is nonsmoking and a high-roller room for smoking table players,” she said.

“Sydney also has a high roller nonsmoking room and another high-roller room for smokers.

“You wouldn’t think that the three casinos all belonged to the same company.

“As part of the $345 million refurbishment of this casino, I want to know, will the high-roller table players be supplied with a smoke-free venue or not?”

Mrs Smith, who is fighting fit even despite suffering five strokes, was even more flabbergasted when Echo chairman John O’Neill admitted he was unaware of the problem.

“That is worrying. It is certainly news to me,” Mr O’Neill said.

Mrs Smith quickly fired another blast straight back at the chairman.

“Well, it shouldn’t be news to you, you should know what’s going on in this casino and how badly it’s run,” she said.

“In fact, as far as I’m concerned, the high-roller room is completely run by who you suck up to.

“A lot of people, I don’t know how they even keep being admitted.”

A contrite Mr O’Neill assured Mrs Smith he would work to resolve the issue.

“Well thank you for your custom and thank you for your helpful comments,” he said.

“I will have (Echo Queensland managing director) Geoff Hogg have a word to you after the meeting.”

Mrs Smith received a loud round of applause from other shareholders.

She told the Bulletin after the meeting that other gamblers had commended her for standing up for her beliefs.

“One lady who plays roulette came up to me and said “good on you for speaking up like you did,”” she said.

The casino operator also failed to escape the ire of regular punters, with shareholder Ian Timmins criticising Jupiters for being more interested in high rollers than regular gamblers.

“With the average punter, you screw them right down and give them nothing,” he said.

“You are only interested in the high rollers and not the regular bread-and-butter punters.

“You’ve got to do a damn lot more to get those people back to this casino. They are the people who are going to bring in the money, not just the high rollers.”

Mr O’Neill told Mr Timmins he would take his observations on board and ensure Mr Hogg also spoke to him after the meeting.