ASIA: Where the Action Is

Atop 5,820-ft. Mount Ulu Kali, the tropic air turns chill at night and lights from the distant capital of Kuala Lumpur glitter like diamonds. But visitors to the new 200-room Genting Highlands Hotel could hardly care less about the breathtaking view. Since the resort opened in May, thousands of eager customers have driven up a misty, winding mountain road for a headier kind of excitement—gambling in Malaysia's first legalized casino.

Respectability. At almost any hour of the day there is steady action at the blackjack, baccarat, roulette and craps tables, many of them run by female dealers or croupiers. The players...

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