Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, firmly rejects plans for an integrated casino resort in Bali. (Image: South China Morning Post / Alamy)

The government of Indonesia has officially dispelled rumors the tropical island of Bali could soon play host to a large integrated casino resort as part of a wider effort to increase international tourism and boost the local economy.

With almost 281 million people, Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation and officially outlawed almost all forms of gambling over 40 years ago. This prohibition even runs to online casinos offering games, although authorities are known to often begrudgingly tolerate limited wagering on more traditional forms of entertainment such as cockfighting and some martial arts competitions.

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Suggested Scheme

Despite this prohibition, reports began to emerge late last month that the government of long-serving Indonesian President Joko Widodo was secretly considering plans to authorize the construction of a large integrated casino resort in the northern Buleleng Regency of Bali. The Bali Sun reports this scheme was proposed so as to help one of the island’s lesser-visited areas boost its economy by becoming more attractive to foreign tourists.

This contentious proposition is even said to have gained support from the head of the local Islamic Students Association, Bayu Mandayana, as it was to only be open to foreign nationals. The influential figure is also a property developer and disclosed such an enterprise could assist people in one of the island’s poorest regions to improve their lots in life.

“In my opinion, the progress of a region cannot be separated from the economic movements within it,” Mandayana said. 

“To increase the circulation of money massively, I think we can’t just rely on the local sector; Buleleng Regency must be able to attract sources of money from outside to come here.”

Distinct Denial

However, Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister, Sandiaga Uno, used a Monday press conference to pour cold water on the plan to bring an integrated casino resort to Bali. Tempo reports the prominent figure categorically rejected the chances of such a scheme being given the green light and asserted gambling is to remain illegal across every one of his nation’s 38 provinces. 

“I can firmly state that there are no plans to build a casino,” Uno said.

Even though gambling and casinos are legal in the neighboring countries of Singapore and Malaysia, Nia Niscaya from the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry echoed her boss’ stance by declaring Indonesia is ‘a nation governed by laws’.

Favored Focus

For his part, the Head of the Bali Provincial Tourism Office, Tjok Bagus Pemayun, soon followed suit by similarly describing the proposal to bring a casino to the island of more than 4.3 million people as ‘not feasible due to existing laws’. He additionally told the Bali Legislative Council on Monday the region should instead align with the country’s wider values by maintaining its commitment to cultural tourism.

“What’s clear is that our foundation is culture, so it is cultural tourism being developed,” Pemayun said. “It’s not about rejecting something but this is cultural tourism.”