doily19

I understand the laws against gambling. Coming from Australia I have seen only too well the damage poker machines and casinos can do to a family, financially and socially. But for the life of me I can't understand an Act of the Parliament, established in 1935, still prohibiting the owning of more than the prescribed number of playing cards (200 I think?). That said, why would anyone want to own more? I myself have several boardgames such as Monopoly and others that require the use of pretend money. Is this legal? Plus a deck of cards (somewhere. I daren't bring them out of the cupboard). Card games such as UNO, and normal playing cards that can be used for a range of games not requiring money, are all suspected to corrupt the minds of Thai people, yet I can take you to a Cockfighting ring in Chiang Rai, out in the open. I have no interest in such a 'sport', but I do know where it goes on and I'm sure the local cops do. Clearly not an issue for the police. None of my wife's family play board games. They haven't grown up with them, however many of these games enable one to develop strategic thinking, while having engaging interaction and fun with family and friends. I have great memories growing up with these games and the bonding of those taking part. Do we now have to draw the shades to avoid police raids and interrogation? Yet, everybody is sitting around staring at their phones, cut off from each other, selling and/or buy truckloads of lottery tickets. Time for a review and let the police focus on more serious going-ons, rather than stalking the homes of families simply enjoying the company of others. Just my thoughts.

Just a funny observation in the use of the acronym 'BoT', for Bank of Thailand. I thought 'Bot' was short for 'Robot'. Or may be there is a connection? 😜

If these are genuine offences being committed by tourists, grab them, tear up there visa, regardless of category and put them on the next plane home. Thailand doesn't need this. Westerners that are genuinely residing there either married to a Thai National or on retirement visas don't need this. They come to Thailand for a nice life. I'm in the process of moving there with my Thai wife as I write this.

This type of rude behaviour is not unique to Thailand. I recall many years ago sitting in Smith Street Mall in Darwin after completing a morning bike ride. We were enjoying a coffee and two naked male 'tourists' walked passed (It's never a naked female tourist🤔). These guys weren't drunk by all accounts and we supposed it was done as a bet. They disappeared around a corner and were later arrested and fingerprinted for indecent exposure. I was working as a fingerprint examiner for the police at the time, hence I was aware of the outcome. I wonder whether the bet was sufficient enough to cover their fine.

The tax area is certainly a little blurred. When capital gains is discussed in DTAs there doesn't appear to be a differentiation between investment RE versus the sale of one's own home. My Thai wife are looking to move to Thailand and navigating the tax aspects is a challenge. I need to sell my house here to buy a house, and other things such as a vehicle, new furniture etc. I can not afford to do this if I'm to pay a large tax on the money I get for my house in Australia (Australian tax laws do not require home owners to pay capital gains on the sale of their own homes). I will become a resident of Thailand for tax purposes as I plan to reside permanently in Thailand on a Marriage Visa. Understand, I'm not the typically rich westerner that most Thais envisage.