Bali governor rejects casino proposal, warns against risking culture for revenue

Bali Governor I Wayan Koster has rejected a proposal to build a casino on the Indonesian resort island despite estimates it could generate as much as IDR 100 trillion ($6.3 billion) annually, warning that such projects could undermine the island’s cultural identity and long-term future.

“No one should even think about building a casino in Bali,” Koster said, according to local media. “I was told, ‘Sir, if there is a casino in Bali, you could immediately get IDR 100 trillion.’ The number may sound great, but once we take the wrong step, Balinese culture could vanish.”

The governor stressed that Bali’s globally unique culture-based tourism was the island’s strongest asset and gave it a competitive edge over destinations such as Macau or Singapore.

“Culture-based tourism exists only here in the world, so there is no competition. We will continue to win in cultural tourism. Going forward, we must never waver on this matter of culture,” he said.

Koster also dismissed proposals for other large-scale developments, such as a racing track, citing Bali’s limited land resources and the need to preserve tradition.

“Once we make the wrong move by undermining Balinese culture and abandoning culture as the basis of tourism, we could lose more than IDR 100 trillion and put Bali’s future at risk,” he said, according to Kompas.com.

The island welcomed 4.3 million foreign visitors between March and mid-August 2025, with officials projecting arrivals could reach 7.2 million by year-end despite persistent problems with traffic congestion, waste management, and misbehaving tourists.

Koster said the province’s strategy must focus on sustainability, cultural preservation, and tighter governance to safeguard Bali’s appeal.

“Bali’s culture is unique - there is only one Bali in the world. That means we have no competitors,” he told CNN Indonesia. “If we make the wrong move even once, it could be very dangerous for Bali’s future.”

He closed with a warning against chasing financial gain at the expense of identity.

“The figure of IDR 100 trillion may look attractive, but if it comes at the cost of eroding Balinese culture, it will be meaningless. Culture is the essence of our tourism and our identity. Without it, Bali will lose far more than it gains,” Koster said.