Taiwan wants to stop casino referendum

Legislators from Taiwan are trying to stop citizens from being able to vote on a referendum that would define casino status.

Taiwan.- As the Taiwanese government is considering a gaming expansion on the country with the potential approval of a casino project in the islands of Kinmen County, four legislators are trying to take away the people’s right to decide on the subject.

As reported by Taiwan Central News Agency, the four legislators were trying to erase the Article 10-2 from the Offshore Island Development Act, which establishes that a casino resort can be legalised if they get the necessary votes on a referendum. A proposal to remove those rights has been submitted to the Economics Committee of the Legislative Yuan, which is set to review the proposal and send it to Taiwan legislators to review the reading.

The lawmakers claimed that the referendums would cost the government too much money and by amending that part of the Act they would be saving administrative capital. Taiwan already operates few offshore casino services, but the latest project would allow complete gaming legalisation in Kinmen County and land-based casinos. The first phase of the project requires 6,207 signatures in order to be sent to the local election committee, which will determine the conditions of the referendum.