Gambling in Taiwan is prohibited by theCriminal Code of the Republic of China.[1] State-run lotteries, like theUniform Invoice lottery, are the only legal form ofgambling on mainlandTaiwan. The construction of casinos on some off-shore islands was legalized in 2009, though to date none have been built. Some gambling-style games (such ascards andmahjong) are allowed either on special days or under special restricted circumstances.
Taiwan has a long history of gambling, with widespread activity during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuryQing Dynasty era. Locals partook in more than 100 well-known gambling games.[2] According to historians, the most popular game was theflower match game which became popular to the point of social disruption;[2]
The peak of the flower match game was in 1896, with many citizens wallowed in gambling and unable to stop. This caused some people to become robbers and others to even sold their daughters to brothels to pay their gambling debts.
Thereafter, Taiwanese authorities began introducing a range of restrictions on gaming, including an attempted (but ultimately failed) ban in 1897.[2] During the period ofJapanese colonization, gambling continued in Taiwan with illegal gambling supported by Japanese organized crime.[3]
Introduced in 1935, theCriminal Code of the Republic of China prohibited both public gambling and the provision of venues for gamblers to assemble (e.g.,casinos).[4] Under the law, gamblers are allowed to play cards for non-currency items like matchsticks and citizens can play games likemahjong atChinese New Year under "temporary amusement" clauses.[4]
The popularPatriotic Lottery was active between 1950 and 1987 to raise funds for the government.[5] In 1951, Taiwan introduced theUniform Invoice lottery. Other forms of gambling likecasino-style gaming,poker machines andbookmaking remain illegal. Some political figures have claimed that, as a result, illegal casinos, gaming and sports betting have thrived.[6] In 1997, three well-knownTaiwanese baseball players confessed to havingfixed matches at the behest of illegal gambling syndicates.[7]
Over the course of the last decade,Taiwan's legislature has debated a number of proposals aiming to legalize casino-style gaming.
In recent years,online gambling sites have become popular with Taiwanese citizens seeking forms of gaming not offered in Taiwan itself and gaming with better odds than state-run lotteries.[8] The turn away from state lotteries has led to major losses by the banks that run them, like theTaipei Fubon Bank.[8] By 2003, there were already 2,000 online gaming sites available to Taiwanese customers.[4] According to the deputy commander for technology at the Criminal Investigation Division ofKeelung City;[8]
The abundance of illegal gambling websites also proved difficult to crack down upon due to their high mobility, let alone the legal websites, which have resulted in many social problems as gamblers do not know whom to seek help from for their addictions.
In 2003, theCriminal Investigation Bureau announced it was referring 300 Taiwanese customers of theUnited Kingdom–based online gaming site,Sportingbet, for prosecution. The company maintained it had done nothing wrong and had not breached Taiwan's laws.[4]
In January 2013, Taiwanese authorities announced they were investigating the alleged transfer ofUS$180 million from Taiwanese gamblers to casinos inMacau by the Taiwan-based branch of Melco Crown, a joint venture ofHong Kong–basedMelco International andAustralia-basedCrown Limited.[9]
In February 2013, authorities revealed they were investigating claims that desperate gamblers, looking for any opportunity to place bets, had established a betting-ring so they could wager on thelife expectancy ofterminally ill cancer patients. Reports suggested that the families of poor patients had agreed to participate because it allowed them to pay for a decent funeral for their relative.[10][11] The following month, a "mid-level"prosecutor wasindicted on unrelated corruption charges following accusations she helped to cover up illegal gambling operations and pressured other prosecutors to cease investigating illegal gaming operations.[12]
In 2009, legislative amendments to theOffshore Islands Development Act legalized the establishment ofcasinos on the islands ofKinmen,Matsu, andPenghu if more than 50% of local residents agreed in areferendum.[1] To date, though a number of such facilities have been proposed, none have been opened. Despite the amendment, US-based gaming experts have suggested that completion of a casino anywhere within Taiwanese territory is unlikely before 2017.[13]
In 2013,Green Party Taiwan central executive committee member and candidate, Pan Han-shen, published a scathingopinion-editorial piece in theTaipei Times claiming that proposed casinos, if built, would become "cess pools" of corruption that would encouragemoney laundering.[6]
Since the announcement of the most recent proposals,Premier,Jiang Yi-huah, has reaffirmed his view that any move to legalize gambling on mainland Taiwan would require a "national consensus".[14]
In 2009, shortly after the passing of theOffshore Islands Development Act, the residents of thePenghu Islands became the first to hold a referendum on the development of a local casino. The residents rejected the casino-resort plan 17,359 votes to 13,397. Though only 42% of eligible voters cast ballots, the result was nonetheless valid and binding.[15]
In 2012, the residents of theMatsu Islands voted in favor of allowing the construction of a casino on the islands - 57% supportive, 43% opposed - surpassing the 50% rate of support required for such a proposal to pass. The population of the islands has since increased dramatically, with an increased population support rate of 11.24% since the referendum.[16]
William Weidner, of Weidner Resorts Taiwan and USlobby groupFreedom's Watch, is behind theUS$8 billion proposal to build a casino on Matsu. He has pledgedUS$2.5 billion (part of the total $8 billion) to improve local infrastructure, including an upgrade of theMatsu Beigan Airport.[17] But his proposal has drawn some criticism after he suggested that plans for the casino (along with local infrastructure funding) might be withdrawn if theGovernment of Taiwan does not move quickly enough to amend laws as necessary.[18]
In 2013, at the celebration forChinese New Year, tycoonTerry Gou proposed the development of aLas Vegas-style casino industry inNew Taipei City and additional "convention and exhibition facilities" in theTamsui District. MayorEric Chu agreed that such a plan would make the city more competitive and would attract more foreign tourists.[1]
Gou has also suggested that a casino could be established on theKeelung Islet, a 23 ha island formerly used as a military training off the Taiwanese coast near the port city ofKeelung. The plan would involve the use of adecommissionedcruise ship with existing on-board casino, hospitality and accommodation facilities.[19]
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