Gamblers don’t need casinos

Gamblers in the Mao-Shweli valley on the Sino Burma border are not fretting over the recent closure of casinos, reports Mao Mao from northern Shan State:

A number of gambling dens have sprung up in Muse opposite Yunnan’s Ruili, to fill in for the casinos that were closed early this year due to Beijing’s demand. Many of them are operated by or under the auspices of pro-military militia groups, such as those in:

“There are also at least two gambling dens in Namkham (25 miles away),” said a gambler, “and this is in spite of the district officer (Lt-Col) Soe Win’s warning on 27 August that gambling is illegal.”

Sources agree that gambling and drug taking come together, followed inevitably by petty crimes. “But authorities are taking no notice, although we have our own share of police and drug busters,” said a local businessman.

Most casinos on the Burmese side of the border have closed since the beginning of the year when China renewed its campaign on three fronts: HIV/AIDS, Drugs and Gambling. “But what happens here has completely made a joke of Beijing’s policy,” he said.