Casinos legalized in 2009
In a second referendum on the subject, residents of Penghu off the coast of Taiwan voted against bringing casino gaming to the offshore archipelago. The consensus was broad—81 percent of voters came out against the plan, with only 19 percent in favor.
Reuters reports that the ballot question was opposed to by the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.
The Indian Express reports that the ballot asked whether to allow “recreational complexes” with casinos. Almost 26,600 people voted no on the measure compared with 6,210 who voted yes.
President Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party, which controls the legislature, oppose casinos. The president has said Penghu should develop its ecotourism capabilities to increase tourism.
Taiwan’s gross domestic product is forecast to grow 1 percent this year, according to economists surveyed by Bloomberg News. That’s the slowest pace among the economies once known as the “Asian Tigers,” including Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea, the news outlet reported.
The Taiwan government first gave offshore areas the right to develop casinos with its 2009 Offshore Islands Development Act. Along with Penghu, the islands of Kinmen and Matsu were identified as possible casino sites; the latter islands that only are a short ferry ride from Mainland China, reports Forbes magazine.
In 2012, Matsu voted yes to casinos in a referendum; that year, a similar proposal was defeated in Penghu. After the Matsu vote, a Tourism Casino Administration Act was drafted but has been stuck in the legislature ever since.
Meanwhile, China has cut official ties with Taiwan because Tsai Ing-wen, who took office in May, does not honor the “one China” principle. Some observers believe the Chinese government will eventually move to curb what it perceives as a rebellion and bring Taiwan to heel.
Sheldon Adelson, head of the Las Vegas Sands Corp, and Francis Lui, deputy chairman of Hong Kong’s Galaxy Entertainment Group Ltd., have both expressed interest in Taiwan if gaming were allowed.
