Parliament agrees to set up "Casino Commission" - idea to get gambling money from foreign tourists gains momentum

[webfact]

Picture Sanook

 

The latest plan to open a legal casino in Thailand to get money from foreign tourists in picking up steam at a fast rate.

 

Following a debate in the house last week where there was widespread cross-party consensus and many comments from leading politicians in support of the idea, it has now been decided to set up a commission.

 

The vote for this shows the level of support the idea is garnering - 310 for, 9 against and 10 abstentions. 

 

The commission will be cross-party, reported Sanook, and has 90 days to report its findings.

 

It will be made up of 15 members of the cabinet, 13 Pheu Thai MPs, 11 from Palang Prachachart, six from Bhumjaithai, five each from Future Forward and the Democrats and one each from several other parties.

 

Quoting news agency Issara, Sanook said that proposed names on the list include Chatchawan Khong-udom also known as Chat Taopoon, Mongkholkij Suksintharanon and Sira Jenjakha.

 

The last of these is a former heavy gambler who said that he was always opposed to the idea of a casino but has now changed his mind after turning his life around and hearing the arguments of fellow MPs.

 

The word "casino" is largely being used in the Thai press but the term "Entertainment Complex" is favored in political debate. 

 

This euphemism perhaps goes some way to explaining the complex relationship that the Thai public and Thai authorities have with the thorny issue of gambling, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Few legal avenues exist to bet in Thailand with the state lottery and on course horse racing among them.

 

But a huge number of Thais bet both legally and illegally with underground lotteries, online sites and hundreds of "speak easy" style casinos nationwide often operating with the connivance of police and politicians. 

 

The issue is one of the biggest of political and social hot potatoes but the current moves represent a serious step with Sira saying earlier this week that he expects a legal casino to open "within the life of this government".

 

Most noises coming from key figures at present suggest that the plan will be for only foreign tourists to be allowed to bet at first with Thais working in the casino. 

 

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[jacko45k]

get gambling money from foreign tourists.......

It all sounds just tacky and greedy......

[Bluespunk]

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

The latest plan to open a legal casino in Thailand to get money from foreign tourists

Because that’s what foreigners are for…

[Hayduke]

48 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

get gambling money from foreign tourists.......

It all sounds just tacky and greedy......

 

All things considered....you couldn't expect anything different.

 

 

[Thailand]

Legalise cannabis as well and they have cracked it. Buckets of money flowing in. 

 

 

[RafPinto]

From bum bum money to gambling money.

 

They are running out of ideas.

[jacko45k]

2 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Legalise cannabis as well and they have cracked it. Buckets of money flowing in. 

 

 

Why, has it turned Mexico into a haven of wealth?

[ezzra]

"idea to get gambling money from foreign tourists gains momentum" 

Or rather it should read " the idea of fleecing tourists of their money in gambling is bloody good idea"

Will they serve alcohol in them casinos while they fleece them i wonder? as you know a drunk tourist easily parts from his money...

[Gottfrid]

We have a little bit of a huge problem. While they throw out all of their deep rooted buddhist beliefs, they refuse to understand that the most common visitor in the casinos will be Thais.

 

48 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

get gambling money from foreign tourists.......

It all sounds just tacky and greedy......

No, it does not! It sounds honest and true. Something that all countries in the world are aiming for. To get as much money out of foreigners visiting their country as possible. It´s just that they not speak about it.

 

43 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

Because that’s what foreigners are for…

Yes, exactly like all other countries think too, but they not speak up about.

 

22 minutes ago, ezzra said:

"idea to get gambling money from foreign tourists gains momentum" 

Or rather it should read " the idea of fleecing tourists of their money in gambling is bloody good idea"

Will they serve alcohol in them casinos while they fleece them i wonder? as you know a drunk tourist easily parts from his money...

Regarding fleecing, please read above. Are you also saying it is something different with a Thai casino serving alcohol compared to a Las Vegas casino?

[Bluespunk]

4 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

 

Yes, exactly like all other countries think too, but they not speak up about

And when the OP is about other countries I will comment upon them…

[Moonlover]

Their obvious prime target will be the Chinese who are voracious gamblers. Won't it be ironic that once the borders open up we could see the Chinese flocking to Thailand to gamble legally whilst Thais are hopping across the border to Laos and Myanmar to do the same.

[GeorgeCross]

they can afford it and its good for thailand

 

win-win!

 

????

[Bluespunk]

26 minutes ago, GeorgeCross said:

they can afford it and its good for thailand

 

win-win!

 

????

And even if they can’t afford it, still a win. 

[DLock]

It's inevitable that Thailand will have a casino.

 

Let the Chinese have Pattaya like they have Sihanoukville and everything will be fine. 

[Thailand]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Why, has it turned Mexico into a haven of wealth?

I don't know anything about Casinos in Mexico.

[Eric Loh]

35 minutes ago, DLock said:

It's inevitable that Thailand will have a casino.

 

Let the Chinese have Pattaya like they have Sihanoukville and everything will be fine. 

Sihanoukville would have gone to the Japanese as in the orginal plan. 

[Karma80]

Or course, this is all for the tourist income and appeal and not for the organised crime and backhanders for vested individuals. 

[MyFriend You]

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

We have a little bit of a huge problem. While they throw out all of their deep rooted buddhist beliefs, they refuse to understand that the most common visitor in the casinos will be Thais.

 

No, it does not! It sounds honest and true. Something that all countries in the world are aiming for. To get as much money out of foreigners visiting their country as possible. It´s just that they not speak about it.

 

Yes, exactly like all other countries think too, but they not speak up about.

 

Regarding fleecing, please read above. Are you also saying it is something different with a Thai casino serving alcohol compared to a Las Vegas casino?

My Uncle was a Carnie in Rocky Point Carnniville, Warwick, Rhode Island - he always said his job was to separate you from your money as fast as he could, legally, and without force - that man was so convincing, he could sell a refrigerator to someone on the North Pole. ..............  Fleecing visitors has been going on for centuries..............     Peace

[phetphet]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

get gambling money from foreign tourists.......

It all sounds just tacky and greedy......

At least they are being honest about their motives.

[Tropicalevo]

This will probably get passed by the government.

Possibly, the largest illegal gambling den in Thailand is Lumpinee boxing stadium.

It is owned and run by the Royal Thai Army.

I suggest that the casino entertainment complex would likely be run by the same organisation.

[herfiehandbag]

1 hour ago, DLock said:

It's inevitable that Thailand will have a casino.

 

Let the Chinese have Pattaya like they have Sihanoukville and everything will be fine. 

Well I, and many others, suspect that is where it is going.

 

There is a lot of money to be made, and that is what will decide it.

[JohnOFphon]

You know that empty shopping mall in bkk...Show DC. That would make an excellent casino.

Wouldn't have to evict that many shops...there are few.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

Legalise cannabis as well and they have cracked it. Buckets of money flowing in. 

 

 

Recreational drug users don't tend to have much personal wealth in my experience. There are exceptions though. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

get gambling money from foreign tourists.......

It all sounds just tacky and greedy......

They are desperate now due to COVID and the lack of tourism. Anything will now be considered.

 

Money Number One. 

[yogi yogi]

respectfully vietnam.  the casinos is see along the ocean are the biggest reason i would not come to vietnam.  who is going to these casinos.  chinese?

[yogi yogi]

westerner want eco tourism not casino

[abrahamzvi]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

get gambling money from foreign tourists.......

It all sounds just tacky and greedy......

Unfortunately most of the money will not come from foreign tourists, but mainly from poor Thais, which could end up in an economic disaster

[Eric Loh]

12 minutes ago, yogi yogi said:

westerner want eco tourism not casino

Yet the biggest high-roller in the world is Kerry Parker. 

[wombat]

2 hours ago, DLock said:

It's inevitable that Thailand will have a casino.

 

Let the Chinese have Pattaya like they have Sihanoukville and everything will be fine. 

just checking it out

[yogi yogi]

6 minutes ago, wombat said:

just checking it out

u could be right.  if the chinese had pattaya sin city would be come super sin city.