Now Taiwan wants casinos
TAIPEI – Taiwan’s parliament is set to legalise gambling on a group of offshore islands as soon as year end, legislative sources said this week.
Reuters said officials see the move as a way of propping up the island’s floundering economy.
The passage of a bill authorising gaming in the Penghu archipelago would bring Taiwan into competition with other East Asia gaming hotspots such as Macau and South Korea, and upcoming casinos in Singapore.
Taiwan is linked to Macau by direct air services, many originating in China.
Penghu, a summer destination in the Taiwan Strait that lies largely dormant during the winter months, wants to issue three casino permits, most likely to resorts.
Legislation to legalise gambling has been talked about for years, but received a boost with support from the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou, which took office in May.
“We don’t want to exceed three licences. We’re not going to be the same as Macau,’ said Su Kun-hsiung, mayor of Penghu’s main city Makung, citing concerns about theft and prostitution.
In a closed-door meeting, Taiwan legislators agreed to put their gaming bill to a formal vote, with a majority indicating support, a senior legislative aide said.
According to Reuters, British AMZ Holdings is one of three operators looking at sites, with plans to build as many as 500 rooms on a now barren 11 hectare coastal tract, spending US$200 million on construction and partnering with one of the world’s top five casinos, the firm’s Taiwan president Ashley Hines said.
Ian Jarrett
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