Gambling bill fails to pass

Thursday, Jan. 24, 2002 | 11:12 a.m.

Taiwan's Legislature has derailed an effort to bring resort casinos to an island group near the Southeast Asian nation, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Legislation was introduced in Taiwan last year that would legalize gambling in Penghu, an island chain located between Taiwan and mainland China. Officials from Venetian owner Las Vegas Sands Inc. and MGM MIRAGE visited Penghu to examine the possibility of building casinos there, and Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson discussed it about a year ago with Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian.

But the bill failed to pass in Taiwan's Legislature last week, the Journal reported, though observers said it was possible the bill could re-emerge the coming years.

Meanwhile, both MGM MIRAGE and Las Vegas Sands have turned their attentions to the Chinese coastal city of Macau, where both companies are among the nine finalists for a casino license. Macau's government is expected to award three gaming licenses soon.

"Our company's sole focus in Asia is Macau," MGM MIRAGE spokesman Alan Feldman said.

Venetian officials declined comment.