Taiwan legalises casinos while Polish casinos face new tax
Casinos may soon be legalised in Taiwan after the country's parliament voted through a bill allowing land-based casinos to be built on its surrounding islands.
The bill will allow casinos to be constructed on the surrounding islands of Taiwan, based on the provision that they are approved by local residents beforehand. The Taiwanese cabinet will now proceed to set up a committee in order to clarify the measures governing casinos such as the size and number of casinos which can be licensed in the country.
A government spokesperson said that the bill was one of the priorities of the Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou. He said:
"This is one of the political agendas listed on the campaign platform of President Ma Ying-jeou. It would certainly be a boost to the offshore islands' competitive edge in tourism and land development."
While details of the plans have not yet been announced, analysts are predicting Penghu, the island groups located in the Taiwan Strait, will be the most likely venue of the first casino.
A study by the Taiwanese Council for Economic Planning and Development has reported that the islands would attract half a million tourists and generate over 100 billion Taiwanese dollars ($3 billion US) every year. It is estimated that the plan could create up to 50,000 jobs for local residents.
In other world news, casinos in Poland have been given a respite from a levy which would have seen casinos in the country taxed an additional ten per cent on their earnings.
The tax, originally intended to come into force from January 1, was stalled in order to allow for further negotiation between casino operators and the government. Various Polish casino chains had previously argued that the tax would have a negative impact on the gaming industry in the country.
At present, the Polish government takes 45 per cent from casinos in the country. The new tax would have been taken out of the industry earnings from slot machines and table games played in casinos. The money raised from the extra tax was intended to be used in the construction of stadiums for the 2012 European football championships.