BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – The Bali Tourism Board (BTB), also known as the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) Bali, has expressed opposition to proposals to legalize casinos and gambling in Bali, arguing that the idea is inconsistent with the island’s tourism development priorities. Bali’s tourism industry, it maintains, should remain rooted in culture, tradition, spirituality, and environmental sustainability rather than gambling.

BTB/GIPI Bali Chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana, widely known as Gus Agung, maintains that Bali’s main competitive advantage lies in its distinctive cultural identity, which continues to attract visitors from around the world. Developing casinos, he argues, could undermine that identity and lead Bali to imitate the tourism strategies of other destinations rather than build on its own strengths.

According to BTB/GIPI Bali’s position, casinos would not necessarily deliver broad-based economic benefits. Although they could attract high-spending visitors, or high rollers, gambling activities would not automatically translate into longer visitor stays or greater economic benefits for the wider community.

Modern casinos often operate within integrated complexes, or enclaves, where accommodation, entertainment, dining, and gambling facilities are concentrated in a single area. BTB/GIPI Bali is concerned that this model could keep much of visitors’ spending within the complexes, limiting the economic benefits reaching micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), local traders, and surrounding communities.

The association also warns of potential risks to Bali’s cultural identity and traditional values. The island’s tourism philosophy is closely associated with Tri Hita Karana, a Balinese principle emphasizing harmony between humans and God, among people, and between humans and the natural environment.

From this perspective, the development of a casino industry could conflict with these principles and weaken Bali’s appeal to travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences and natural attractions.

The argument that casino legalization could help control illegal gambling also requires careful scrutiny, according to the association’s position. Commercial gambling on a large scale, it argues, should not be equated with existing illegal gambling activities. Legalization could introduce additional risks, including money laundering and wider social consequences.

Instead of pursuing casino development, BTB/GIPI Bali considers several existing tourism challenges more urgent. These include addressing waste management and environmental degradation, reducing traffic congestion, improving road infrastructure, and distributing tourist visits more evenly across North, West, and East Bali.

The association also highlights the need to optimize and ensure transparency in the management of the Foreign Tourist Levy (Pungutan Wisatawan Asing or PWA). The levy, it argues, should deliver tangible benefits by supporting improvements in tourism quality and environmental protection.

Meanwhile, regarding proposals to legalize tajen, or traditional cockfighting, BTB/GIPI Bali maintains that the practice should remain within its customary religious context, particularly tabuh rah, a ritual involving the offering of blood as part of certain Balinese Hindu ceremonies.

Turning tajen into an openly commercial gambling activity, the association warns, could undermine its ritual significance and increase social and economic vulnerabilities at the banjar (traditional community unit) and family levels.

BTB/GIPI Bali’s position underscores the importance of prioritizing sustainability, equitable distribution of tourism revenue, and the protection of Bali’s cultural heritage. Amid ongoing infrastructure and environmental challenges, the association argues that legalizing casinos is not the solution to the island’s most pressing tourism needs.