MP wants to allow local gambling in Samoa

HRPP’s Famuina Wayne Fong appealed to the government to allow local gambling  in casinos as Samoa only authorises foreigners to play.

Samoa.- Ruling HRPP party MP Famuina Wayne Fong thinks locals should be allowed to gamble at Samoan casinos and, during discussions on casino management laws, has asked the government to consider the idea. Currently, only foreigners are allowed to do so and the MP says it could increase revenue if Samoan could gamble as well.

A tsunami decimated the country’s economy in 2009 and the following year the Samoan government decided to pass laws in order to allow two casino licenses that would help recovering from the disaster. The decisition had its detractors in religious leaders on island, who have rejected casino operations on the country.

A large hotel and casino was about to get built in the nation by the China’s Exhibitions Tourism Group (ETG) until its chairman, Deng Hong, got accused of corruption back in the Asian country. Samoan government decided then to remove their license.

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.