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Ma offers outlying islands hope of developing casinos

President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Sunday said that only economically disadvantaged outlying islands would be allowed to develop casinos.

Ma made the remarks at a lecture on local economic development at Magong City Hall in Penghu.

Responding to an appeal by some local politicians for the decriminalization of gambling in outlying islands, Ma said that during his stint as minister-with-portfolio some 12 years ago, he traveled to Canada and several other countries to gain first-hand knowledge about their casino operation policies.

All the countries only allowed economically backward regions to develop gambling industries to help boost development.

“The government would agree to the development of the gambling industry in [Taiwan’s] outlying islands, which are generally regarded as economic backwaters,” Ma said, as a way to boost their economic development.

Ma said gambling would remain banned in Taiwan proper. If Penghu wanted to develop a gambling industry, he went on, its residents should first forge a consensus.

Noting that Penghu is rich in marine and tourism resources, Ma said he hoped it would focus on the development of multi-functional entertainment parks that integrate casino operations with tourism and recreational services.

To achieve this, outlying islands’ development regulations should be amended to decriminalize gambling, said independent Legislator Lin Ping-kun (林炳坤) from Penghu, adding that legislation was also needed to regulate the gambling industry.
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