Thaksin Rules Out Casinos In Thailand

[george]

PM rules out jumping on casino bandwagon

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will not follow the lead taken by Singapore and other countries in the region by opening casinos or entertainment complexes, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed today.

Speaking in response to moves by the Singaporean government to open two casinos, Mr. Thaksin said that even though all of Thailand’s neighbours had casinos, Thailand itself would not follow suit.

The prime minister noted that casinos were a highly controversial issue, with some people arguing that casinos would merely serve to legalise gambling which already existed, while others argued that casinos would promote gambling.

“Each side has their reasons. If we are to do anything on this issue, we need a public hearing. But I can confirm that we are not thinking of this issue at the present time”, he said.

--TNA 2004-04-20

[penzman]

Fell off m'chair!

[Joey Boy]

Laos has casinos? or is it not counted as a neighbour?

Edited April 20, 2005 by Joey Boy

[dr_Pat_Pong]

PM rules out jumping on casino bandwagon 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will not follow the lead taken by Singapore and other countries in the region by opening casinos or entertainment complexes, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed today.

Speaking in response to moves by the Singaporean government to open two casinos, Mr. Thaksin said that even though all of Thailand’s neighbours had casinos, Thailand itself would not follow suit.

The prime minister noted that casinos were a highly controversial issue, with some people arguing that casinos would merely serve to legalise gambling which already existed, while others argued that casinos would promote gambling.

“Each side has their reasons.  If we are to do anything on this issue, we need a public hearing.  But I can confirm that we are not thinking of this issue at the present time”, he said.

--TNA 2004-04-20

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That means he's still looking into it

[ovenman]

“Each side has their reasons.  If we are to do anything on this issue, we need a public hearing.  But I can confirm that we are not thinking of this issue at the present time”, he said.

That means he's still looking into it

He's still looking for a way to have Shin Corporation turn a profit from Thailand-based casinos.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

“Each side has their reasons.  If we are to do anything on this issue, we need a public hearing.  But I can confirm that we are not thinking of this issue at the present time”, he said.

That means he's still looking into it

He's still looking for a way to have Shin Corporation turn a profit from Thailand-based casinos.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[aletta]

Talk of casinos here has been going on as long as i can remember,with the number one choice being in Chon Buri.I think the badly behaved God Father down there has put old Thaksin off the idea.

[eljeque]

Laos has casinos? or is it not counted as a neighbour?

I read a few years ago that there were Mehkong River islands that had small casinos that were not really counted as Thai or Laotian. Curious if they are still around.

He's still looking at a way that ...ONLY....Shin Corp will turn the profit from oening casinos. He knows he can make a killing on the opening of casinos, but he wanst to make a genocide out of it -- a virtual monopoly, as that is what he knows how to run.

[aletta]

I believe Shin Corp has a property developing division called something like SC Asset.

Maybe they have some nice plots in good locations.

[Jai Dee]

I believe Shin Corp has a property developing division called something like SC Asset.

Maybe they have some nice plots in good locations.

I believe it's called The Ambassador Hotel on Jomtien Beach.

Maybe Mr.T is just tidying up a few loose ends before announcing the "Open Tender" for an entertainment complex and casino management... positioning his extended family and business affiliates in such a way that Shin Corp is at arms length perhaps?

[Donnyboy]

PM rules out jumping on casino bandwagon 

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will not follow the lead taken by Singapore and other countries in the region by opening casinos or entertainment complexes, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra confirmed today.

Speaking in response to moves by the Singaporean government to open two casinos, Mr. Thaksin said that even though all of Thailand’s neighbours had casinos, Thailand itself would not follow suit.

The prime minister noted that casinos were a highly controversial issue, with some people arguing that casinos would merely serve to legalise gambling which already existed, while others argued that casinos would promote gambling.

“Each side has their reasons.  If we are to do anything on this issue, we need a public hearing.  But I can confirm that we are not thinking of this issue at the present time”, he said.

--TNA 2004-04-20

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thaksin may have done a u turn on having casinos in Thailand according to the Singaporean Prime minister. I watched the Singaporean leader on tv( channel news asia) this evening answering questions about the future of Singapore and how it would stay ahead in terms of tourism, industry etc etc. He mentioned the 2 casino resorts will be great and although other close countries were thinking of following suit. He mentioned that when he spoke to Thaksin about casinos, Thaksin was in favour of pushing ahead the idea of up to 4 casinos in LOS.

Any one else hear of this?

[britmaveric]

I'd wager Thaskin is trying to figure out how he can make dosh out of the Casinos. I fear this isnt the end of this isue.

[ZZZ]

To many politicians and other VIP's taking a large cut of the illegal gambling to be able to make it legal just now.

[Diablo Bob]

Just look at Taksims headlines in the past few weeks on this forum.

1) End the slums in 3 years!

2) End the flooding in 3-4 years....

3) Eradicate Drugs in the last trimester of this year......

And the list goes on and on and on....... The guy never stops!

How else will the Kingdom pay for all of these programs? Best to get in on the ground floor and capture a market share than wait.

[haha]

I like thaksin. he is trying. he has more guts than I will ever have. and I admire him for that. nobody is perfect. so, I don't expect him to be.

frankly, I think you got to be crazy to be a politician because there will always be somebody who doesn't like you.

but since he is brave enough to take the job, I wish him the best.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Very trying

[carlthailand]

So, the Thais will continue to pop over the border with the Thai baht. Makes perfect sense to me.

Thailand the hub of non-sense.

[ovenman]

So, the Thais will continue to pop over the border with the Thai baht. Makes perfect sense to me.

Thailand the hub of non-sense.

Actually, it makes perfect sense. Who do you suppose owns an interest in most, if not all, of the cross-border casinos? That's right, the same cronies that would probably own the casinos were they actually on Thai soil. The appropriate pockets are still getting lined, the powers-that-be can say "no" to Thai casinos and sell the decision as concern over the welfare of Thai people.

[carlthailand]

So, the Thais will continue to pop over the border with the Thai baht. Makes perfect sense to me.

Thailand the hub of non-sense.

Actually, it makes perfect sense. Who do you suppose owns an interest in most, if not all, of the cross-border casinos? That's right, the same cronies that would probably own the casinos were they actually on Thai soil. The appropriate pockets are still getting lined, the powers-that-be can say "no" to Thai casinos and sell the decision as concern over the welfare of Thai people.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So really its only a possiblity they own them? Gee, they could save fuel, improve Thai tourism hang on. That is far to sensible. My Bad.

[steveromagnino]

er.. its a fact that one of the major shareholders is one of the MPs in that area of Thailand on the Thai side of the border?!

There are a LOT of voters who do not want casinos here in Thailand.... remember that MOST of the population do not go to Poipet.

Look at what is going on with the listing of Beer Chang etc and imagine the backlash against a casino.

I love gambling, well actually to be more precise, I love winning (and I am a consistent cardcounting blackjack winner based on experience of mindnumbing work as a dealer for almost a year with nothing better to do than countdown 6 decks again and again and again), but I don't support bringing casinos to Thailand. If people want to do it, having to travel is a pain, so there is at least some cap on it. The damage I see it does to people who can least afford it is problematic; and the instant reward/cost factor far more addictive than the underground lottery/Muay Thai/cock fights/fish fights.

I argue that much of Thailand would be unable to cope were casinos introduced that allowed them to gamble here, and that the people controlling the casinos here would probably be non-legit business interests.

It also brings unhealthy elements; in my experience prostitution, loan sharking and drugs come in not long after and we already have enough of each of those here without needing more.

The argument that it is going on so should be legalised is weak at best; should we legalise murder simply because we cannot stop it?

Leave it in Cambodia; give the economy something there to do and do not legalise. It will not bring tourists since almost every other &lt;deleted&gt; country has casinos anyway...unless we want bus loads of spitting Chinese tourists as per Genting

And Pattaya is the worst location anyway; it should be Chiang Mai if it does go ahead; deliver some growth to a new location.