Transport minister says casino could be ready by 2017

 
Minister for Transport & Communications, Yeh Kuang-shih, said this week that a casino could be built on Matsu island by the end of 2017.  A draft proposal for gaming legislation has been made and the Executive Yuan is considering amendments to the Offshore Islands Development Act, which states that a casino can only be built on an outlying island as long as it is part of an international resort.  According to the minister, the casino is only one of a series of attractions planned for the island.  As Taiwan does not have experience with operating casinos, the government will seek assistance from international investors, a number of which have shown interest.  Qualified investors will be selected by the end of 2014, with the resort to then be built over the next three years.  The ministry can only issue a casino license once the resort has been built.