The general secretary of the Stop Gambling Campaign Foundation responded to a recent statement by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday regarding the potential establishment of an entertainment complex to address the issue of illicit gambling activities.

 

The Thai PM had outlined plans for the Provincial Administration and National Security Departments to oversee the situation, acknowledging the existence of covert illegal gambling dens.

 

However, Thanakorn Khomkrit took issue with the prime minister’s remarks, arguing that the presence of illicit gambling dens was not a well-kept secret, but rather a result of negligence. The lack of strict law enforcement by the Provincial Administration and National Security Departments, he suggested, was the real issue.

 

Thanakorn pointed to the Supreme Court’s ruling and the Thai Ministry of Interior’s official letter which categorised claw machines as gambling games and prohibited the issuance of licenses for their operation. Despite these directives, claw machines and similar devices are still prevalent in shopping centres and amusement parks, easily accessible to young people.

 

According to Thanakorn, these facts do not point to the secret operation of illegal gambling activities, but rather to the failure of effective supervision. Personal benefits, he hinted, might be a significant reason for this oversight.

 

Before legalising underground gambling dens, Thanakorn emphasises that the Provincial Administration and National Security Departments should improve their monitoring of capsule toy vending machines, claw machines, and other gambling-like machines to determine their legality.

 

This, he believes, would assure Thai citizens that legalising underground gambling dens could be effectively regulated by the government and would not lead to negative consequences, reported Pattaya News.

 

Thanakorn further raised concerns about the machines’ attractive prizes and their stationary locations, which sometimes house hundreds of different types. This, he suggested, could be seen as a mini-casino for children, highlighting a critical area for government oversight.

 

By Top

Caption: Photo courtesy of Pattaya News

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-04-04

 

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I reckon if the Thais want to go ahead with this they should contract the Las Vegas and Macau mafia to run the casinos....they know exactly how to control and manage everything.

10 to 1 odds, the campaign fails ... any takers ?

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Thai PM had outlined plans for the Provincial Administration and National Security Departments to oversee the situation, acknowledging the existence of covert illegal gambling dens.

All under the watchful eye of local plod.