Taiwan to okay casinos

MAKUNG, Taiwan -- As reported by Reuters: "Taiwan's parliament is set to legalise gambling on a group of offshore islands as soon as year end, legislative sources said on Monday, as local officials eye permits for three resort casinos to shore up their economy.

"The passage of a bill authorising gaming in the Penghu archipelago would bring Taiwan into competition with other East Asia gaming hotspots such as Macau and South Korea, and upcoming casinos in Singapore, even as the global credit crisis make it harder for developers to raise funds for new projects.

"Penghu, a summer destination in the Taiwan Strait which lies largely dormant during the winter months, wants to issue three casino permits, most likely to resorts, after passage of the legislation, local officials told reporters over the weekend..."