China mulls legalized gambling on cash-strapped Hainan Island

China’s southern province of Hainan may give Macau a run for its money in the future as the government starts to draft a proposal that will pave the way for legal gambling on the island.

Bloomberg reported that the Chinese government is considering allowing online gaming, lottery, and sports betting, as well as opening the door to brick-and-mortar casinos in a bid to draw more foreign tourists in the island.

China has prohibited gambling in mainland China—even selling lottery tickets must have the approval of the Chinese government.

In 2014, Chinese President Xi Jingping has launched a corruption crackdown that resulted in a two-year revenue rut for Asia’s premier gambling hub. The Chinese government has also imposed new rules last year that prohibits investments in the gambling industry.