Legal public casino set for top level government discussions this week

[aussienam]

Knew it.  I predicted this.  Pattaya will become what Sihanoukville has in Cambodia as it's an easy fit for mass casinos.  Massive Chinese investment coming.  Criminal cartels will love this news.  

[DefaultName]

Look.   At.   Sihanoukville.

 

No work for local's, Chinese doing it.  Many places Chinese only, even locals can't enter.  The profits flow back to China.

 

Don't do this please.

[DPKANKAN]

5 hours ago, smedly said:

Is the plan for Pattaya slowly being revealed 

That was part of the planning process of several 'hotels' there some years ago now!! 

They have been waiting for the new 'governments' 'benefactor' to settle down in his role....????????????????????????????????

[BKKBike09]

It's high time the Thai government legalised casino gambling for foreigner-only casinos, as long as the casino is part of an integrated resort project a la Marina Bay Sands / Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. Pattaya and Phuket would be the logical locations: international airports close at hand, good infrastructure etc etc.

 

But international operators won't be willing to pony up billions of USD to develop an IR if they're not guaranteed attractive tax rates and a clear statement of future competition (eg only 2 licenses and no sub-licenses for 10 years etc). US operators like LVS / Wynn / MGM are faced with losing their concessions in Macau next year; I'm surprised they haven't been lobbying here more actively. Asian operators like Genting / Galaxy / Melco (maybe even Crown) would also be sure to be interested - particularly given the ongoing debacle about legalisation in Japan. 

 

Forget the low-rent joints in Lao / Myanmar / Cambodia. Actually the Philippines is fast becoming the biggest casino destination in the region, second only to Macau. There are some very good properties there.

 

Thailand as ever will be late to the party. Of course vested interests will make it difficult, but at least there should be proper and open debate. I am not pro-gambling per se but land-based casinos can be controlled. The fee for all of online is much more corrosive and socially damaging and far, far harder to regulate, especially with the adoption of crypto as a payment mechanism.

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

Can you imagine the scale of corruption and money laundering if it was made legal.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

sihanoukville II ?

If they dredged the beach and made a deep water port it could.

[aussienam]

5 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

let me guess.. rich people can gamble responsibly

 

poor people CANNOT.

 

 

Anyone involved or having been involved in law enforcement and organized crime investigations, knows all too well that a main purpose of casinos is to 'legitimize' laundered money. 

 

Proceeds of crimes ranging from drugs, stolen property, fraud, extortion, corruption, tax evasion are funneled into casinos, exchanged for chips, played on tables and cashed in.  Corruption with officials turning a blind eye and receiving gratuities is very common with casinos worldwide. 

 

The lower end of town gambling addicts make a minute proportion, albeit it also destroying lives.  

Poor people are best to stay away from casinos as we know the house will always win in the end and desperation with gambling is a terrible mix.

 

 

[PeachCH]

5 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Allow casinos for foreign tourists only like Korea and Philippines.

Seen a Japanese guy  change $USD 80 thousand dollars at Paradise Casino like nothing.

 

I just go for the Bibimbap

In Manila so many casinos, also big ones. Rich Asian people gamble with millions of Peso. But... also Philippine people can gamble, not only tourists!! For many families here in Manila a big problem. Good source of income for the government. If you like to gamble and Tourists can visit the Philippines again, then can recommend Okada casino with 500 tables and 3000 slot machines ????????

[ikke1959]

The ones who profit from the illegal gambling dens will sure be against it.. It will cost them there monthly extra income...Besides, there are o many issues that people want to change and non of them are approved by this Government

[Scott Savage]

Please please don’t or will end up like Cambodia. The Chinese may well come but the Thai people will lose out completely. 

[ThaiFelix]

By being willing to discuss it, are they in fact saying that gambling is more acceptable to Thai culture than pornography is even though gambling destroys 1,000's of peoples lives every year?

[Berkshire]

6 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

let me guess.. rich people can gamble responsibly

 

poor people CANNOT.

 

Let's put it another way....rich people can afford to lose money gambling, poor people cannot. 

 

I'd honestly love to see casinos in Thailand.  I'm all for people having the freedom to choose their form of entertainment.  But there are people who simply can't control themselves.  Fact is, even if the casinos prohibit Thais from entering, they'll find other venues to gamble.  They already are.  Perhaps the Singapore model.  

[Scott Tracy]

Betting in a casino will probably be found to be unconstitutional. Not possible to change that. Discuss all you want. Nothing will happen.

[nobodysfriend]

It may be time for the government to realize that people want to have fun ... make Pattaya the 'Thai las Vegas ' .

Why always try to forbid everything that is fun ...?

This country seems to be run by very serious " Grandfathers "

They want money but it is the mentality of army generals that kills the fun .

[LarrySR]

The enormous amounts of condominiums with hotel size rooms that have been constructed in recent years indicate someone in the know with lots of money to invest is preparing for hoards of visitors. 

The expansion of Sukhumvit Rd. south of Jomtien tells me something big is coming that way.

[nobodysfriend]

1 minute ago, LarrySR said:

The expansion of Sukhumvit Rd. south of Jomtien tells me something big is coming that way.

What do you see coming ?

[Matthew2027]

Na Jomtien ? I'll leave my comment at this only.

[LarrySR]

16 minutes ago, nobodysfriend said:

What do you see coming ?

I predict casino development in the neighborhood where highway 7 meets Sukhumvit. 

ICON Mall 10 billion project being planned near the Yacht Club & Disneyland was also looking at that area some time ago.

 

In Las Vegas, some hotels/casinos have more than 5,000 rooms and Wynn resorts alone employ 30,000. 

Doubt the casinos will be in central Pattaya, Pratamnak or Jomtien as the infrastructure cannot support the traffic loads. 

 

 

[eddie61]

4 hours ago, champers said:

You presume too much. All that will have been decided on already, IMO.

King Power again..

every govt crook has a finger in that pie

[Eric Loh]

34 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

Betting in a casino will probably be found to be unconstitutional. Not possible to change that. Discuss all you want. Nothing will happen.

Perhaps you mistaken the Gambling Act for the constitution. Sections of the Gambling Act has been amended to allow government sponsored lottery and horse betting. Allowing casino to operate is merely a matter of a simple inclusion in the Gambling Act. 

[IamNoone88]

It has been very profitable in Singapore and Macau, but these have been exceedingly well run.

 

The question is just how many casino's and integrated resorts should be licensed? The country is big enough for several in the main tourist centres and that would ignite the local economy if and when they finally come on line.

 

 

 

 

[biggles45]

I am very surprised that they waited so long after 'a certain event' to raise this issue. 

[Ginner]

8 hours ago, fangless said:

Any betting on this happening!

Not with this PM. He is anti gambling, drinking, porn, smoking and westerners. The country could makes millions if not billions of the Chinese tourists in legalized Casinos.

[Ginner]

Just now, Ginner said:

Not with this PM. He is anti gambling, drinking, porn, smoking and westerners. The country could makes millions if not billions of the Chinese tourists in legalized Casinos.

off

[orchidfan]

4 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Thailand is surrounded by casinos in 

neighboring countries of Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and further in Philippines and Singapore. Losing millions of foreign currencies to gambling off-shore. Matter of when not how for casino to be set up in Thailand. Just the millions of tourists from China and India will guarantee lucrative revenues for investors and the government. The spin-off businesses will be immense. 

And Macao. Air Asia used to fly there direct pre covid.

Much , much larger than Las Vegas..and only 2 hrs away. 

Those boys won't be happy with casinos starting up in LOS. 

[thailand49]

Personally it isn't the hiding!  No better time than now!  although I'm totally against gambling they finally got the right puppet in place to be able to hear the suggestion. Up to now even before the pandemic they have been trying to close all the provinces gambling house usually run by the local BIB, because the national leaders don't get a cut legalizing it now that is going to be the biggest payday for years to come.

 

I know a property owner who has been holding his land down at Jomtien although he's had offers through the years then I can actually see the unfinished building eye sore at Bali Hi pier being resolved with all the deep pocket backers cash thrown around to everyone who stands against. Sadly it is finally going to happen. Slot instead of slugs in every GoGo and Beer Bar?

[brucegoniners]

I heard the rumor 5 years ago that it was all set to happen from some people in the know.

 

Pattaya will no doubt get casinos sooner than later.

 

And why not?

[Tony125]

9 hours ago, smedly said:

Is the plan for Pattaya slowly being revealed 

It's been talked about for over 21 years to open a casino off shore on Koh Larn but that's it just talk. If the Saint that controls Thailand is against alcohol, scantily clad women, go-go's and Issarn singers twerking too many times in their dance routines I just don't see them opening up to any vices like gambling.

[newnative]

     Always, always, always just discussing, discussing, discussing--endlessly.  With apologies to Nike, JUST DO IT.  Try a pilot program for 5 years with a limited number of casinos at selected areas of the country.  Evaluate after 3 years, tweak if needed, and consider expansion at that point. 

[AllanB]

After telling foreigners to bugga off and the money has stopped this is another attempt to get the rich ones back. Casinos attract criminals so good luck with that.