Reuters) - A referendum in a small island group on Saturday has paved the way for Taiwan's first casino, welcome news for global gambling companies keen to expand in Asia's fast growing casino industry.
Almost 57 percent of Matsu's voters opted in favor of government plans to build a casino, Taiwanese media reported.
Las Vegas players including Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts have been among the many companies keen on setting up a resort in Taiwan given its close proximity to China and large markets such as Korea and Japan.
Gambling is illegal in Taiwan but an amendment passed in 2009 permitted building casino resorts on offshore islands.
Matsu, named after a Chinese sea goddess, is home to 8,000 people and is a 30-minute ferry ride from China's Fujian province.
Residents in favor of a casino resort say it would boost infrastructure and help develop islands' tourism industry.
Matsu is one of the smallest of the offshore island groups that the Taiwanese government has enabled to vote for casinos in local referendums.
Residents of the Penghu Islands, off the western coast of Taiwan, in 2009 rejected plans to build a casino there.
Analysts say a casino in Matsu would have minimal impact on gambling revenues in Macau which is located on China's southern coast. It is also not clear how easy it would be for Chinese citizens to get visas to travel to the Taiwanese islands.
"Five percent of overall visitation to Macau is from Taiwan, and Matsu is less conveniently located from Taipei than Macau," Macau and Las Vegas-based Union Gaming said in a note.
Weidner Resorts Taiwan, a company run by former Las Vegas Sands executive Bill Weidner, has unveiled plans to build a casino resort that includes luxury hotels, professional sports venues and convention halls.
Opponents of plans for a casino on Matsu say such a development could disrupt the tranquil nature of the islands as well as increasing crime and pollution.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/09/us-taiwan-casino-idUSBRE86800420120709
Industry
Legal Resources
Regulator Links
WORLD LOTTERY WEBSITE LINKS
LOTTERY EXPO 2013
Co-Hosted by PGRI and the
Florida Lottery
November 4 to 7, Miami, Florida,
Trump Miami Beach Hotel
18001 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
Phone: Domestic: 855.244.2964 International: 786.522.3523
**Use Group Code 10W820 to get our
special rate
Monday, November 4: 5:00: Opening Night Reception
Tuesday, Nov. 5: U.S. focused conference sessions; Reception 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
Wednesday,Nov. 6: Joint U.S. and Latin America Sessions; Reception 5:00 to 6:30 pm.
Thursday, Nov. 7: Focus on Latin America
Three Receptions and luncheons provide lots of time to visit with colleagues For complete Lottery Expo info, including registration materials and conference updates: PublicGaming.org Conference Venue: Trump Miami Hotel - Limited special rate of $175 Reserve your room click here online booking
call us at 425-449-3000 if you get a "sold out" or encounter any difficulties at all
===================================================
SMART-TECH 2013
PLATINUM SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Thank you to all
of you who presented, served on a
panel discussion, and participated
at Smart-Tech. This was PGRI’s
fourth annual event in NYC and has
become a great venue for lotteries
to delve into the most relevant
issues of the hour, and we so
appreciate the privilege of hosting
it and visiting with you. The next
issue of PGRI Magazine will include
an in-depth analysis of the issues
we explored. Too, the conference
was video-recorded and will be made
freely available to everyone on
www.PGRItalks.com. We’ve
received much positive feedback and
hope that everyone accomplished
their objectives. Our next event
will be held at the Trump Miami
Beach Hotel on November 4, 5, 6, and
7th. Lottery Expo Miami
is especially exciting for the
participation from our colleagues in
Latin America. The North America
track is on Tuesday, the LatAm track
on Thursday, and we all come
together on Wednesday. Thanks to the
support of our commercial partners
and sponsors, the hosted receptions
held every night of the conference
have become a wonderful venue to
talk with industry leaders from all
around the world. Please check in at
www.PublicGaming.org for PGRI
conference updates. Thank you again
- We look forward to seeing you
again. Please e-mail me (pjason@publicgaming.com)
with any questions, feedback,
guidance, or comments of any kind.
Smart-Tech 2013 was held
April 8,
9, 10, 2013
at the Helmsley Park Lane,
New York.
Legal
Social Media
Europe
Financial
Responsible Gaming
Worldwide
Casino/Racino
Internet, Mobile
Political
Technology
Regulatory
OPINION
Paul's Wall
2012 Public Gaming Magazines
PUBLIC GAMING OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2012
Click here to read the .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING SEPTEMBER 2012
Click here to view the .pdf version
Click here to read the regular .pdf version
PUBLIC GAMING MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE 2012