Claremont Partners like the market
Residents of the island of Penghu off Taiwan may soon vote again on the issue of legal casinos, according to GGRAsia.
The news outlet reports that by this time next month, casino supporters may have enough signatures on a petition to send the issue to the polls. If the referendum succeeds, Taiwan’s central government would be responsible to regulate the industry.
Until 2009, gaming was illegal on Taiwan’s outlying island chains of Matsu, Kinmen and Penghu. After the ban was lifted, Penghu voted down a gaming initiative. But in a July 2012 referendum, the residents of Matsu voted in favor of casinos to boost tourism, add jobs and generally lift the local economy.
The Penghu Times and China Times both report that the latest referendum is being promoted by a group called the Alliance Promoting Internationalization of Penghu. If enough petitioners sign by mid-April, the vote can be held in June.
