KOROR (Palau Horizon) — President Tommy Remengesau has vetoed a bill that would allow the operation of slot machines, pachinko games and casino in Angaur, saying that there are other worthy legislation than gambling.
“I believe that it is premature to embrace gambling when so many serious uncertainties remain,” he said in his veto message to the Olbiil Era Kelulau, Palau’s national legislature. “As the old fable shows, once the genie is out of the bottle, it can be very hard to put him back. And I am certain that the complexities of the gambling industry require much more comprehensive and specific legislation than that represented by the bill in question,” Remengesau said.
He said the OEK should address pending economic initiatives such as the new tax act, the proposed Foreign Investment Law and tax incentive bills instead of coming up with gambling legislation.
“We can encourage more quality businesses to come to Palau without resorting to initiating an industry with questionable benefits to our economy and society,” he said.
He said the OEK should consider the public’s opinion on the matter through a nationwide referendum.
Remengesau said that efforts of the OEK to come up with revenue-generating measure is “most welcome.” However, he said there are “several social and philosophical concerns” regarding the bill.
“I welcome the OEK’s initiative in considering potential new industries, such as gambling in Palau…. (But) given the uncertainties surrounding that particular industry, I am not convinced that the Republic of Palau is prepared to endorse gambling as it would exist under the proposed law,” Remengesau said in his letter to Senate President Seit Andres and House Speaker Mario Gulibert.
Remengesau noted that although tourists, non-Palauans and expatriates are the only ones who would be allowed to gamble, Palauans could actually be “more susceptible to the ills associated with gambling than non-citizens and tourists.”
He said it also suggests that Palauans may not act responsibly if allowed to gamble.
The bill likewise sends a bad signal to foreigners, he said.
“If gambling has inherent ill-effects, then those ill-effects will be felt by non-Palauan residents and visitors as well as citizens. It makes little sense to me to send the message that we encourage our visitors to engage in behavior that we believe to be harmful to them and society,” Remengesau said.
He said Palau must also protect tourists by guarding them against the ill effects of gambling.
