PM Srettha: Legalise casinos to save Thailand’s economy

[webfact]

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin advocated for the legalisation of casinos to combat the shadowy underworld economy in Thailand.

 

PM Srettha outlined his vision for a new law permitting entertainment complexes housing legal casinos, aiming to drag illicit activities into the light and bolster national revenue streams.

 

“We have to bring the grey [underground] economy into the light to allow us to control it, both for security and suitability. And we can collect taxes properly. I agree with this and believe it’s an important issue.”

The Bangkok-born Thai prime minister articulated the potential of legal casinos to dissolve the nation’s pervasive illegal gambling dens while concurrently replenishing the treasury.

“If they can go to legal casinos, why will people continue breaking the law? Gamblers can try their luck at legal casinos.”

 

Addressing opposition, the 62 year old PM asserted the necessity of parliamentary deliberation, urging lawmakers to heed the voice of the populace. He called for an end to the hypocrisy surrounding gambling, advocating for stringent regulations to oversee its practice.

 

In his dual role as finance minister, the Thai prime minister acknowledged the prolonged timeline for implementing the proposed law, acknowledging the ongoing battle against illegal gambling. Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn echoed the sentiment, foreseeing a surge in job opportunities with the establishment of legal casinos within entertainment complexes across Thailand, reported The Nation.

 

Phiphat anticipated the creation of up to 50,000 new jobs, underscoring the potential economic windfall and the prospect of quelling illegal gambling through legitimate means.

 

ORIGINAL STORY: Legalising casinos to boost economy: Thailand House of Representatives forms committee

 

A 60-member committee to probe into the potential launch of entertainment hubs, inclusive of casinos, has been established by Thailand’s House of Representatives. This move seeks to rectify the issue of underground casinos and invigorate the nation‘s financial state, as suggested in a proposal put forth by members of parliament from diverse parties.

The endorsers of the proposal encompassed Thoedchart Chaipong, a Pheu Thai MP for Chiang Rai; Non Paisanlimcharoenkij, a Move Forward Party MP for Nonthaburi; and Chatchawal Kong-udom, a United Thai Nation Party list-MP.

 

The process of establishing a committee to explore this matter was debated upon in a House session presided over by House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha.

 

Rangsiman Rome, a Move Forward Party list MP, conveyed his agreement, whilst cautioning that a parallel working group had also been set up by the preceding House of Representatives to scrutinise this issue.

 

The opposition MP disclosed that he was alerted about a Tak province-based firm, implicated in human trafficking and illicit human organs trading, that managed to send a representative to present its perspective before the committee, seemingly with harmful intent.

 

Rangsiman emphasised the requirement for preventative steps against ill-intent influence. He expressed his belief that legalising casinos could lead to the downfall of casinos operating at the borders, thereby redirecting the money of Thai gamblers towards the government revenue for national development.

 

United Thai Nation Party list-MP Chatchawal underscored the financial loss resulting from Thai citizens travelling to neighbouring countries for casino gambling. Chatchawal revealed that he had initially proposed the legalisation of casinos 30 years ago, but faced opposition, reported Bangkok Post.

 

He suggested situating at least five entertainment complexes with casinos strategically across the country — one each in the North, the South, the East, the West and the Central Plains. He affirmed that this would provide local employment opportunities, eliminating the need for some Thais to seek employment overseas.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-29

 

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[flyingtlger]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin advocated for the legalisation of casinos to combat the shadowy underworld economy in Thailand.

He wants to legalize gambling but make recreational marijuana use illegal???

Just make both legal. More money in the coffers....

[swerve]

Thais have a serious gambling problem. Opening casinos will help nothing.

[pookiki]

Land bridge, hubs of countless varieties, a flood of tourists that will eventually ruin the Kingdom's reputation and now gambling? Does he think this will resolve the debt problem with Thai households or restrain Thais from borrowing from 'illegal' moneylenders? There's no focus or solid planning going on in government house just the soup d'jour to rescue the economy.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, flyingtlger said:

He wants to legalize gambling but make recreational marijuana use illegal???

Just make both legal. More money in the coffers....

Not sure the two are similar in the slightest.......

Slippery road we are on, difficult corks to put back in the bottle.

[sammieuk1]

“We have to bring the grey [underground] economy into the light to allow us to control it, both for security and suitability. And we can collect taxes properly. I agree with this and believe it’s an important issue.”

 

Or give the police a pay rise so they can cease this grey activity 🤔

[dinsdale]

PM Srettha: Legalise casinos to save Thailand’s economy

PM Srettha: Legalise casinos Eradicate Corruption to save Thailand’s economy

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

PM Srettha outlined his vision for a new law permitting entertainment complexes housing legal casinos, aiming to drag illicit activities into the light and bolster national revenue streams.

From the pockets of the police to the coffers of the government.

Some will not welcome legal casinos

[hotchilli]

31 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

Or give the police a pay rise so they can cease this grey activity 🤔

They will find a way to continue... greed has to be fed.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, swerve said:

Thais have a serious gambling problem. Opening casinos will help nothing.

Srettha knows it will help the economy by taxing casinos, he doesn't give a rats about people going into debt to feed their gambling addiction.

[ezzra]

And how long, prey tell Mr. PM, do you give this venture before the under world or other influential

figures will muscle in?...

[thesetat]

Gambling is illegal in Thailand except for during a wedding or funeral. To allow casinos to open in Thailand they would need to change the laws to allow it. Thais already have a problem with household debt, gambling addictions, and borrowing money from high interest personal lenders. Their solution to allow casinos does not justify the problems it will create and will only benefit those who are invested in having the casinos. Perhaps instead they should stop wasting money trying to get legislation to allow the casinos and instead apply it to enforcing the current gambling laws. 

For crying out loud, they were plenty fast taking dart boards from bars due to their possibilities of being used for gambling.

[spidermike007]

The thing about this guy is that he appears intelligent but I really don't think he is. What they don't seem to get is that taxing people to death is not a solution, so if you reduce luxury taxes people will start buying luxury goods, if you reduce wine taxes people will start buying fine wine. They keep talking about it but I don't see them doing it, it's basic common sense. 

 

Thailand could have a very vibrant fine wine industry, the five star hotels could really benefit with major wine events, and the country could become a regional mecca (hub?) for wine afficionados. But they need to lower the tax to a reasonable rate (10 to 30% total, including local taxes and Vat) and then you've got an additional appeal for the wealthy tourists that they keep on talking about. 

[quake]

Go for it Thailand.

I am all for it.

Time to step into the 21st century.

 

I hope to see many more changes in Thailand on many issues. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 29 by quake

[dinsdale]

Scenario. Casinos built near boarders. Chinese flood in, gamble, and take winnings back across the border.

[quake]

2 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Scenario. Casinos built near boarders. Chinese flood in, gamble, and take winnings back across the border.

 

What winnings 

[Kinnock]

And, using the same logic, legalise prostitution?

 

But this utopian view of legalising the grey economies for their benefits, assumes the existence of an effective police force to control the negative aspects the activities.

[edwinchester]

It's a start but casino's will most likely be in the big tourist resorts. What about the small gambling dens run by the BIB catering for the rural population?

[quake]

Just now, edwinchester said:

It's a start but casino's will most likely be in the big tourist resorts. What about the small gambling dens run by the BIB catering for the rural population?

 

Will be business as usual. 

[quake]

19 minutes ago, thesetat said:

Gambling is illegal in Thailand except for during a wedding or funeral. To allow casinos to open in Thailand they would need to change the laws to allow it. Thais already have a problem with household debt, gambling addictions, and borrowing money from high interest personal lenders. Their solution to allow casinos does not justify the problems it will create and will only benefit those who are invested in having the casinos. Perhaps instead they should stop wasting money trying to get legislation to allow the casinos and instead apply it to enforcing the current gambling laws. 

For crying out loud, they were plenty fast taking dart boards from bars due to their possibilities of being used for gambling.

 

Mate, it's time to stop treating Thais as children.

They will then start to grow up, just like many countries have done in the past.

Who are you or any other foreigner to tell them what they can or can not do.

 

[edwinchester]

8 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Will be business as usual. 

Have to agree with that. Wonder if they'll be registering the one in our village for tax purposes?

[BKKBike09]

27 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The thing about this guy is that he appears intelligent but I really don't think he is

 

Going to have to disagree with the 'appears intelligent'. 

 

The PM also forgets to mention that it will take years to build and open the billion-dollar plus Integrated Resorts they have in mind, so 'the economy' won't get any benefit for years.

 

The proposed tax rates are actually competitive but it's years away. Plus they want one mega-project in each region. 

[quake]

6 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Have to agree with that. Wonder if they'll be registering the one in our village for tax purposes?

 

Think any Tax, will be collected by the plod on the night. 

[retarius]

Yes, legalise today, and close them all down tomorrow. Nothing like thinking things through. 

[recom273]

35 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

The thing about this guy is that he appears intelligent but I really don't think he is. What they don't seem to get is that taxing people to death is not a solution, so if you reduce luxury taxes people will start buying luxury goods, if you reduce wine taxes people will start buying fine wine. They keep talking about it but I don't see them doing it, it's basic common sense. 

 

Thailand could have a very vibrant fine wine industry, the five star hotels could really benefit with major wine events, and the country could become a regional mecca (hub?) for wine afficionados. But they need to lower the tax to a reasonable rate (10 to 30% total, including local taxes and Vat) and then you've got an additional appeal for the wealthy tourists that they keep on talking about. 

https://www.belaws.com/thailand/reduce-alcohol-taxes/

 

i read this with interest the other day.

[recom273]

Legalizing gambling could have a positive effect on the Thai people - it might force some social issues to be dealt with in a different manner, but I don’t see village card games and hi-lo stopping because an extravagant casino opens in the next province.  
 

Sansiri casinos? inevitably it will be be an opportunity for big investment, maybe the Chinese as in Laos - while nothing changes for the average Joe. Would be great to see another revenue stream for the police to be cut off.  

[thailand49]

Nothing like a large donation to get a Thai leader to stake their position.

[mikebell]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

PM Srettha outlined his vision for a new law permitting entertainment complexes housing legal casinos,

It's not his vision - it's Thaksin's  who was whispering about making the Ambassador Hotel Na Jomtien the 1st casino 15 years ago.  Now Thaksin is back so is this idea; Tax Sin.

Edited March 29 by mikebell
punctuation

[rexpotter]

54 minutes ago, quake said:

Go for it Thailand.

I am all for it.

Time to step into the 21st century.

 

I hope to see many more changes in Thailand on many issues. 

 

 

 

 

 

I completely agree. I suspect after it gets going many of these these gambling addicts will get their lives together and realize how foolish the whole thing is.

[rexpotter]

Legalize it.

When something is legal it takes away a lot of the thrill.