Controversial Myanmar (Burma) surrounded by India, China, Thailand and the Bay of Bengal, is joining China in its gambling crackdown. However, even as land-based casinos catering for Chinese players are closed, the less tangible online market is increasing. Chinese language gambling websites proliferate and, although deemed illegal by the authorities, are widely used. All gambling is illegal in China unless it takes place in the casinos of Macau or the racetracks of Hong Kong.

Until the present crackdown, casinos just across the Chinese borders were a thriving business. An estimated 80 have closed in Myanmar and Laos, including six big ones bordering China’s Yunnan Province. Offices of the casinos within China have been closed and travel passes for Chinese visitors to Myanmar have been cancelled. With cooperation between the two countries, power supplies and transport, along with telephone lines, to the casinos have been cut.

Chinese action against casinos in Myanmar is not a new occurrence. Two years ago, in September 2003, Chinese soldiers were massed on the border across from the small town Mong La. China originally consented to the Myanmar casinos as a preferable alternative to drug trafficking, but had not accounted for the resulting huge outflow of yuan. Chinese casino workers were ordered back to China and the border was sealed to Chinese visitors. Around eight months later busloads of Chinese gamblers were still crossing the border to the casinos, reaching a yearly average of around 200,000.

This new onslaught against gambling in China may be a battle not easily won. Many Chinese, finding that they can no longer play at the casinos, will doubtless take their bets to the online operators and business there will be less easy to shut down. Internet gambling is truly a cross border activity. (E-07.06.05)

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