Indonesia May Legalize
Gambling
- JAKARTA, INDONESIA - Jakarta is considering lifting
its 23-year old gambling ban to profit from the billions
of rupiah that exchange hands in illegal gambling pockets
- particularly in and around Jakarta's Chinatown.
Proposed
by a research group in the University of Indonesia, the
motivation is an economic one to boost the city's revenues
as well as curb debilitating crimes related to illegal
gambling in the city.
The
target clientele of these gambling centres would be the
ethnic Chinese and the wealthy segment of Jakarta's population.
"The gambling centre should be located far away from slum
areas and would cater only to people who can afford it,"
said Budhisantosa of the Centre of Development Study.
Gambling
was legal in designated areas in Jakarta up to 1978 and
revenue earned from these spots were directed to altruistic
causes like building mosques, churches, schools, and hospitals.
Several
radical Muslim groups are however opposed to the idea
because it undermines Islamic teachings forbidding gambling.
Control therefore, is a chief concern among supportive
members of the provincial legislature.
To
prevent a potential backlash, plans are being made to
situate the gambling zone away on outlying resort islands
that are currently the holiday havens for Jakarta's rich.