Samoa rejects bill to allow locals to bet

The Samoa prime minister decided to reject a bill that would have allowed locals to enter gambling facilities.

Samoa.- Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, Samoa prime minister, has rejected a bill that would’ve changed the current laws and let locals gamble in casinos. The Samoan rules establish that only foreign gamblers can access casinos.

According to the Samoa Observer, several members of the Parliament were trying to push for the consideration of a new legal scheme to allow Samoan citizens to enter gambling facilities. Nevertheless, the Prime Minister rejected any requests and said that if people want to gamble, they should enjoy bingo, the legalised gambling activity for locals. His main reason to dismiss the demands was because according to him, gaming is only allowed in the country because MPs banned Samoan passport holders from participating.

Earlier this month, ruling HRPP party MP Famuina Wayne Fong asked during discussions on casino management laws to reconsider the idea. Currently, Whitesands Casino Samoa-Mulifanua is open to foreigner-only play and there’s plans to open another one soon in Apia but there is still no word on whether or when the second casino will open there.

The official believes that his decision will protect local families from the negative effects of the gambling industry in the long run. Moreover, the parliamentary bills committee is set to decide on the subject after the discussion MPs had to request a change of laws.