In hopes of boosting tourism from neighbouring countries such as China, Thailand and India, the government for the southern Asian nation of Myanmar is reportedly revising its laws on gambling and could soon allow hotels to feature a casino. According to a Monday report from GGR Asia citing an earlier story from The Myanmar Times newspaper, an unnamed National Planning and Economic Development Ministry official revealed that officials in Nay Pyi Taw are currently looking at amendments to the Hotel and Tourism Law following appeals in January from leaders in the states of Mon, Kayin and Shan.
GGR Asia reported that Aung Naing Oo, Director General for the Investment and Company Administration Directorate government agency, explained that these changes, which have been introduced by the Home Affairs Ministry, could involve local hotels being permitted to offer some forms of gambling. The Myanmar Times reportedly cited a Home Affairs Ministry source as detailing that the government had already received expressions of interest from numerous casino operators including some responsible for venues in Macau.
GGR Asia reported that Yan Win, Chairman for the Myanmar Tourism Federation, told the newspaper that the Hotel and Tourism Law needs to be amended before any form of gambling is permitted Myanmar. “If the Hotel and Tourism Law is not amended, casinos will not be allowed to operate even if it is with a hotel,” Win reportedly told the newspaper.
GGR Asia reported that February saw Hotels and Tourism Minister Ohn Maung declare that neither the national government nor his department had any objections to casinos opening in the nation so long as they were sufficiently regulated.
