There’s some tension in the air as Indonesia wrestles with allowing casinos and gambling in the country. It’s currently illegal to gamble in the region, with multiple instances of arrests and takedowns to curb the act.
Now, political pundits and economists have had their say on the matter, with one individual, academic Vidya Ramadhan, suggesting the country only allow foreigners to gamble.
As reported by ANTARA, the proposal would allow for “WNAs” (Warga Negara Asing) or a foreign national to gamble in the country in specialised zones, without legalising it across the country.
This would then lead to taxes collected by the country from these areas – Ramadhan suggested Bali and Batam, frequented by tourists – while still keeping locals away from the government’s perceived dangers.
Translated via DeepL (and edited by ReadWrite), Ramadhan said:
“[If it] is only open to foreigners and prohibits the Indonesian people, when viewed from an economic aspect, it cannot be denied that these activities have a positive impact in the short term, but they need to be regulated so as not to harm the community.
“The legalisation of casinos should also not affect the purchasing power of the community, especially the lower middle class, as it could reduce the savings [for this] group of people.”
Politicians weigh in on Indonesia casinos
However, Ramadhan’s suggestions were also commented on by politician Galih Kartasasmita, who questioned his comparison to the UAE.
Essentially, Kartasasmita finds it a little confusing that a strict Islamic country can operate casinos and gambling attractions for its tourists, but Indonesia can’t.
The politician’s comments received some praise and support from the public, due to the continually growing state budget deficit. It’s thought that the introduction of casinos into the region would help boost the economy in some capacity, similarly to how it did in the 1960s.
Despite its best efforts, illegal casinos and online gambling have become an epidemic in the country, with regular reports of shutdowns and arrests.
