Indonesian Academics Suggest Jakarta Approves Foreigner-only Casinos
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Indonesian academics have proposed that the government give the green light to casinos that only admit foreign passport holders.Top Crypto Casino in Saudi Arabia – BitStarz Ranked #1

According to the news outlet Merdeka, Vidya Ramadhan, a fund manager and a lecturer at the STIE Ekuitas University in Bandung, said that the solution could have a positive economic impact in the short term.

Vidya added that such a system would likely have no detrimental effects on Indonesian society, provided citizens who attempt to enter are barred from doing so. 

His comments come days after the country’s top Islamic body criticized a lawmaker for suggesting that Jakarta should follow the example of countries like the UAE.

The UAE, also an Islamic nation, recently approved plans to open its first casino, which is slated to launch in 2027.

Indonesian lawmakers claim a similar project could help the government boost tax revenues.

Indonesian Casinos: Still a Long Way Off?

Similar rules to those Vidya suggested have been applied elsewhere in Asia. Until recently, South Korea did not allow domestic citizens entry to any of its casinos.

The lecturer explained: “For example, a casino could be opened within a Special Economic Zone. This could be done in places like Bali or Batam. The state could then collect taxes from gambling transactions on the condition that everything is directly supervised.”

Vidya added that the government could launch an in-depth study on the proposal. He also suggested creating special regulations to police these casinos.

Another leading academic, Hikmahanto Juwana (an expert in international law), said that carefully controlled casinos could help the nation raise funds from taxes.

Keep Casinos Away from Java, Law Expert Advises

Hikmahanto said that the government could continue to focus on eradicating online gambling while proceeding with the casino project.

The expert said that building gambling venues on islands away from Java would help the state keep the public safe.

Hikmahanto explained that building casinos in special zones or on an island would allow the government to regulate more effectively than in other Southeast Asian nations like Cambodia and Myanmar. He said, “Casinos have very large turnovers.”

Indonesian officials have previously attempted to fund public projects through gambling legalization drives.

However, major religious bodies strongly oppose a return to these initiatives. The government, meanwhile, continues to crack down on illegal web-based gambling.

Earlier this month, the nation’s anti-money laundering agency announced it had blocked 28,000 bank accounts over fears they could be used to facilitate gambling.

Many of the accounts are dormant. Jakarta believes criminals use these accounts to launder the proceeds of gambling networks, fraud, and narcotics gangs.

Tim Alper
Tim Alper

Tim is a journalist, author, and columnist with two decades of experience writing for outlets like the BBC, the Guardian, and Chosun Ilbo. He is an expert on regulation, business, and industry...