Asian Casinos
To start with, there are several characteristics that are contradictory, but nonetheless promising in the not-so-distant-future about the following Pacific Rim countries in terms of casino gambling.
South Korea has thirteen casinos, which is the largest number within the Pacific Rim countries. The casinos are only for tourists, thus, the gross, revenues from the casinos increases the multiplier effect of tourism.
Additionally, the dress code and the age requirement encourages a specific type of clientèle.
The average size of casinos is six thousand square feet which can only accommodate a small number of slot machines and table games.
Currently, the operating expenses and government taxes in South Korea are high, which makes it difficult for casino operators to make large profits.
Australia, on the other hand, has the second largest number of casinos in the Pacific Rim nations. It opened its first casino in 1973, and recently opened its latest and largest in July, 1994.
Casino gambling in Australia is perhaps one of the most highly regulated regions in the world. The Casino Control Authority is the regulatory body. Besides regulating the industry, it also levies a 25 percent tax on the gross revenues of each casino.
The actual distribution of gaming licenses is left up to the individual states.
Australia differs from many of its Pacific Rim nations in that of 70 to 95 percent of the casino clients are Australians.
The casino industry also faces stiff competition from the 'registered clubs' who have an almost monopoly on the slot machines and keno clubs in the country. The concept of gambling is contrastingly different from that of the other Pacific Rim neighbors.
Also, it is interesting to note that there are no slot machines in the casinos in the province of New South Wales. Licenses for slot machines are only distributed to registered clubs. Unlike the U.S or the United Kingdom, Australian casinos are permitted to advertise and promote casino gambling.
It should also be noted that it is illegal for casino employees there to receive tips. Traditional casino games, such as blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat are played. Some Asian games, Fan Tan, Tai Sai and Pacapio, are also played. Most of these countries in the region have a minimum requirement of eighteen years.
The Philippines boast that they are 'Asia's friendliest casino'. Gambling both legal and illegal has flourished within this country for a long time. It was finally legalized and regulated n 1977.
The nine casinos in the Philippines are much larger than those in South Korea. The average size is about thirty thousand square feet, and these casinos have an abundance of slot machines as well as other table games.
The regulatory body for the casino industry is PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation). This agency levies a 72 percent tax on the gross gaming win. It also enforces the policy of foreigners using passports as a form of identification to enter the casinos.
The Philippines has been successful in securing a large share of the Pacific Rim casino industry by developing and operating junkets.
These packages are offered from many other Asian countries. Some of the popular junket countries are Hong Kong, Taipei, and Japan.
There are also nine casinos in Macau. This small island country is a Portuguese colony which regards tourism and gambling as its main industry; casino gambling was organized in this country from 1934.
Macau is one of the Pacific Rim nations that offers Chinese gambling games. The games 'pacapio', 'fan tan', and 'tai sai' are played at the freestanding casino.
It is perhaps ironic that there is a casino in Malaysia. The majority religion in the country is Muslim, which prohibits any form of gambling. Notwithstanding the religion practice, a casino has been in the country from 1978.
Malaysia can be used as a model for other pacific Rim countries that are reluctant to legalize casino gambling because of religious reasons. The practice of banning the local Muslim, yet allowing others to enter is creative.
This country has demonstrated that it is possible to have a tourist attraction, and not infringing the cultural values of the people.
Lastly, New Zealand will be the latest Pacific Rim entry into the casino industry.
Several factors have caused this decision, and one of the reasons for legalizing casinos was to expand the number of tourist attractions. Another reason was to try and avoid the leakage of large sums of money that was being spent by New Zealanders who gambled in other Pacific Rim nations.
Some legislators say the casino industry will also create numerous jobs for its people.