Laos is one of the true jewels of
Southeast Asia. Though some parts of it may not be as highly developed
as its Indochina counterparts, there is one area where it has managed to
keep up, which is casino gambling.
The Dansavanh Casino is located in Ban Muang Wa-Tha, Vientiane Province.
This Laos casino brings in many jobs for the locals, who sometimes do
not always have a chance to earn a living wage. The Dansavanh Casino is
heavily reliant upon tourists in order to make money. Locals normally
only work there and do not spend their wages on gambling. Because
neighboring countries such as Thailand are littered with flashy,
flamboyant casinos, Dansavanh Casino relies more on tourists from China,
which borders Laos on the Northeastern tip (though they do get some
Thai tourists in to gamble).
The Chinese government has always been very much against gambling,
especially within its own borders. This is why places such as Laos can
open up casinos and be instantly successful by attracting gamblers from
other countries. Because gambling is so taboo in China, the tourists
flock to casinos in excitement to satisfy their curiosity, and they
usually spend pretty big. Laos casinos have long benefited from this
type of spending.
Recently, the Chinese government forbid their citizens to travel to
other countries to gamble. This especially meant neighboring countries
such as Thailand and Laos. Because Laos does rely so heavily on
commerce with China for income, they agreed to enforce the ban. Though
this greatly hurt the income of Dansavanh (amongst others), they are
still open for tourists from other countries. It is also believed that
many Chinese still come to Laos to gamble, but it is not always in big
public Laos casinos, such as Dansavanh.
Casino gambling in Laos features many of the same games that you would
find at any other casino around the world. Games such as blackjack,
baccarat, roulette, slot machines, and video poker can be found in the
casinos. You can even have private or public tables to play at, if you
so desire.
Due to the beautiful resort communities and the ability to gamble within
its borders, Laos will continue to be a force in the Southeast Asia
tourist market. More beachfront properties and even resort casinos are
in the planning and are likely to be opening in the near future. This
provides not only entertainment, but also a source for jobs and
government income for this underdeveloped nation.