In a move that could signal serious intent to establish casino gambling, Taiwan’s Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said that a first step would be to decriminalize gambling in the nation’s offshore islands.
Premier Liu made the statement about decriminalization at a regular cabinet meeting two weeks ago, adding that the cabinet would need to back decriminalization before a casino gaming plan could be drawn up by the Council for Economic Planning and Development.
It would fall to the legislature to actually pass legalization of gaming in the islands, which include the favored Penghu region. Once the legislature passed such a law, the cabinet would create a draft of gaming regulations.
The casino plan is seen by some as an important element in the further development of the leisure industry of Penghu. The region lives on fishing and tourism.
According to Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou, who favors the introduction of gaming in the nation, the outlying islands will be the only areas where gaming will be permitted for at least 10 years.
