Myanmar looks to correctly legalize casinos
Upper House of parliament would only allow foreigners in Macau style casinos
After decades of economic and political isolation, the Myanmar government is seeking to boost tourism and attract foreign investment through casino operations, using Macau as a model to attract Chinese visitors.
The lure of foreign investment and higher tourism numbers has helped many governments across Asia to overcome their aversion to gambling and instead introduce regulation allowing IRs. Now Myanmar looks set to be the next jurisdiction to open its doors, with legislation pending in the Upper House of parliament that will allow foreigner-only casinos.
There are already some casinos resorts operating in Myanmar despite the lack of legislation. Earlier this year, U Myo Win Nyunt, a director from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, said that with a law legalizing gambling potentially on the table, “We haven’t issued any licenses for casinos yet as it’s still considered a type of illegal gambling.” His comments followed reports on social media in the country that three and four-star hotels are operating casinos in the country.
There are several Myanmar ministries in the process of repealing the 1986 Gambling Law that forbids the operation of casinos in the country, in the hope that legalising gambling will spur tourism and boost revenue but some people are lukewarm about the move.
The ministries of Hotel and Tourism, Planning and Finance, and Home Affairs are spearheading the new law to legalise casinos. “The government will legalise casinos as soon as possible after passing the new law in the national interest. Now they are preparing the draft,” said U Myo Win Than, executive director of Grand Andaman Resort.
The Grand Andaman Resort, located on the 1800-acre Thahtay island in Kawthaung township, is one of the two casino pilot projects that started during the military government in 1992. Another one is in the Golden Triangle region, according to U Myo Win Than.
The military government allowed casino gambling as a pilot project in these locations more than 20 years ago to boost tourism and government tax collection. He added,
“Casinos have the potential to be legalised under the current government, after passing through three previous military governments.”
Both Tanintharyi Region and Myeik archipelago are ripe for tourism development. The government also is planning to upgrade Kawthaung airport to handle international flights as tourist arrivals are on the rise.
Despite the casino ban, several illegal gambling joints are operating freely on the coast of Tanintharyi and along the border with China and Thailand, most notably in towns such as Mong La and Muse in Shan State, and Myawaddy in Kayin.
U Aung Myo Min Din, chairman of the Myanmar Hotelier Association, said the government loses millions in taxes from the operation of these illegal casinos. “So, the ministries of Hotel and Tourism and Home Affairs are trying to legalise the operation of casinos.”
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