Bali fights gambling

DENPASAR, Bali: The Badung police have detained nine people for operating an amusement arcade which doubles as a gambling den in a Kuta tourist resort.

The nine were caught Sunday during a raid.

The local police have vowed to step up their campaign against gambling here.

There are at least 30 entertainment centers in Kuta with electronic gambling machines.

Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka announced yesterday that the administration would wage an all-out war against all forms of gambling, including traditional cock fighting.

He said that traditional gambling has been difficult to eliminate from rural areas because the authorities who are supposed to help ban it are actually backing the gambling operators. (rms)