Speaking at his weekly press conference in Jakarta on Monday (5/8/24,) Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has firmly denied rumors of a casino being established in Bali, according to reporting from Antara News.
Echoing the minister’s stance, the ministry’s main expert Nia Niscaya emphasized that casino gambling is illegal and is strictly prohibited in Indonesia, saying that “We are a nation governed by law, so there can’t be [a casino].”
Antara News say that Bali’s Tourism Office has also dismissed the idea. “The proposal to build a casino is not feasible due to existing laws,” Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, said after the hearing with the Bali Legislative Council in Denpasar on Monday,
He added that Bali’s focus is on cultural tourism, aligning with the nation’s values. “What’s clear is that our foundation is culture, so it is cultural tourism being developed. It’s not about rejecting something, but it is cultural tourism,” Tjok Bagus said.
He made the statement in response to a proposal from the head of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (Hipmi) Bali, Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih, to establish a casino on the island, arguing that the closure of online gambling would lead to a shift to offline gambling, presenting a potential opportunity for casinos, according to Antara News.
Source: Antara News