Myanmar looks set to become the next Asian nation to introduce casino gaming after Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Ohn Maung, said the government would consider changing the law in an attempt to boost tourism.
His comments came in response to a question by Mingaladon Constituency MP Aung Hlaing Win during a meeting of MPs on Friday relating to potential government plans to allow foreigner-only casinos near Myanmar’s island resorts.
“Although casinos are banned under the current gambling law, the concerned ministry has no objection against them,” said Ohn Maung. “After the law is revised, they will be allowed.”
According to local reports, Ohn Maung first raised the prospect of changing current laws banning casino gaming in Myanmar during a meeting of the Central Committee for the Development of the National Tourism Industry on 1 December 2017 at which casino gaming topped the agenda.
During Friday’s meeting, Aung Hlaing Win said the introduction of casinos “aimed to generate income from foreign tourists.
“There are very good businesses in Macau and Singapore,” he added. “Our country has large sum of foreign debt that we need to pay back. We need to find solutions to make money for the debt. Casinos could be a major source of income.”
Myanmar’s current law banning casinos was implemented in 1986, but a reversal seems inevitable with officials from the nation’s states and regions largely supportive of introducing casino gaming as a source of much-needed tax revenue.
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