反賭博合法化聯盟

來源：FunDay
日期：2012年10月4日

(地方) 台灣首座賭場期盼吸引中國旅客

馬祖先前是台灣對抗中國的軍事前哨站，島上居民日前同意興建賭場，期望能改善該區經濟。

賭博在亞洲一直是門賺錢生意。澳門與新加坡等地每年靠賭場帶來數十億收益，未來幾年收益預估將更加可觀。馬祖希望能獲准興建賭場渡假村，分食賭場這塊大餅，來吸引遊客──特別是來自中國的。

中國遊客於2010年時海外消費550億美元，是世界第三大消費者。吸引到他們就意味著就業機會及繁榮的保證。這對沉寂已久的馬祖意義重大，因為馬祖已外流大量青年至台北等大都市，他們想尋求更好的生活。

然而，這也伴隨著代價。馬祖可能得仰賴最近的鄰居──中國──來供應水電，因此，中台間不穩定的政治關係可能會嚴重影響賭場生意。興建賭場也伴隨著犯罪與汙染的風險。

懷德渡假村計畫納入一座大學城，同時興建道路連接兩座主要島嶼。賭場渡假村每年估計收益可達100億台幣（3.44億美元）。當地居民每月可領最高達八萬元的補助。

(Local) Taiwans First Casino Looks to Lure Chinese Tourists

The inhabitants of the Matsu islands, previously used as a military outpost against China, have agreed to allow construction of a casino in hopes of improving the economy in the area.

Gambling has become lucrative business in Asia.Places such as Macau and Singapore earn billions of revenue per year and this is expected to continue to rise in the following years.Matsu hopes to get a piece of the action by allowing a casino resort to be built to attract tourists, specifically from China.

Chinese tourists are the third biggest spenders in the world spending US$55 billion overseas in 2010.Attracting them would mean job opportunities and the promise of prosperity.This would mean a lot to this sleepy town which has been losing most of its youth to big cities like Taipei who are in search of a better life.

However, this may come at a price. Since the island might have to depend on its nearest neighbor, China, for its water and electricity, their business may be greatly affected by Taiwans uneasy relationship with China.Building casinos also brings in the risk of crime and pollution.

Weidner Resorts plans to include a college town, as well as build a roadway that will join the two main islands.The estimated annual revenue for the casino resort is NT$10billion (US$344 million).Local residents may get up to NT $80,000 a month in aid.