Two Myanmmar casinos now under government scrutiny

Two casinos that have been operating in Myanmar for more than two decades have been put under the government’s microscope for possible gambling violations.

Myanmar Times identified the two casinos that are now on a regional government watch-list as Grand Andaman Resort, located on the 1800-acre Thahtay Island, and Victoria Entertainment Resort on Treasure.

Both resorts were reportedly being marketed to Thai rollers, who are legally banned from gambling in their home country. Myanmar’s Regional chief minister DawLaeLae Maw said they are now scrutinizing whether their operations are legal under the 1899 Burma Gambling Act.

Despite a ban on casinos in Myanmar, Grand Andaman and Victoria have been running since the 1990s. Each casino resort pays K250 million (US$209,490) annually in income tax to the Union government, according to regional government statistics.