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A referendum on Saturday has paved the way for Taiwan's first casino, Reuters reported.

Almost 57 percent of Matsu's voters opted in favor of government plans to build a casino, local Taiwanese media reported.

Las Vegas players including Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands and MGM Resorts have been among the many companies keen on setting up a resort in Taiwan, given its close proximity to the Chinese mainland and large markets such as Korea and Japan.

Gambling is illegal in Taiwan, but an amendment passed in 2009 permits the construction of casino resorts on offshore islands. （点击路透社网站查看原文）

马祖公投设赌场

       据路透社报道，马祖于上周六就是否设赌场进行公投，台湾或将产生第一家赌场。

       台湾当地媒体称，将近57%的马祖民众投票支持政府设立赌场。

       鉴于台湾与中国大陆近在咫尺，并毗邻韩国、日本等大市场，很多大公司都希望能在那里开设休闲场所，其中就包括赌王谢尔登•阿德尔森执掌的拉斯韦加斯金沙集团以及美高梅国际酒店集团。

       据悉，赌博在台湾是非法的；但2009年对此作出了修改，允许在离岛上建赌场。

(China.org.cn July 10, 2012)