Thailand Prepares for Casino Boom Amid Economic Hopes

[jts-khorat]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is edging closer to legalising large-scale entertainment complexes that include casinos, according to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. The final draft of the bill paving the way for these developments is slated for Cabinet review within the next three to four weeks.

 

This same story, nearly word for word -- only with changing names in it -- has been going around since the time I first set foot into Thailand, in 1998.

 

Gambling has never been legalized, but it always seemed very close.

 

As so often in Thauland: people announcing something or thinking out loud, even if in Thai government, has little meaning. Look what the hand does, not what the mouth says (whin in this case means: who ins invested heavily in the casinos right over the border to Cambodia, or the enclave in Laos... and who would gain if those same people would be cut from the thorugh.

[thesetat2013]

9 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

The loan sharks will make a fortune.

Lending against property and then foreclosing on it when they inevitably lose. 

not just that.. the Thailand national home debt is going to increase substantially. It is already high.. People owe more than they can earn in a year. I hope this will cause the Thai baht to boom. Haha.. The leaders of this country have no idea the pandoras box they are opening. 

[whorouly]

Dear Thailand, if you legalise casinos you are inviting in the Chinese mafia with its associated corruption, murders, kidnapping, and people trafficking.

Before you make this insane move go to Sihanoukville Cambodia and see what has happened to a once beautiful and peaceful city.

Don't let greed blind you to the social disruption you will cause. 

[Adventurer1]

So gambling is ok. 

[DLock]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

The complexes are expected to be situated near major tourist areas, within 100 kilometres of an airport, but not near Phuket

 

How did you process this statement? "but not near Phuket".

 

I personally (and selfishly) welcome casinos in Thailand, and hopefully Chiang Mai. I'm tired of traveling and hotels to play cards. 

 

Just go to Singapore, meet with The Sands Group, and learn how they did it...and see if they are interested in doing the same thing in Thailand.

 

Leaving in the hands of Thai's will probably be a failure on most levels...and greed is a strong motivator to own it all.

 

 

[recom273]

Thailand doesn’t appear to be legalizing gambling, it’s allowing the construction of large scale resort casinos. The people I know who gamble, do it every day, they won’t go to a casino, they play rummy or hi-lo in peoples houses. They could go to poipet or over the river from mukdahan, if they wanted to gamble. This wont affect the majority of local gamblers. 

[Gknrd]

I get this picture of the elites sitting in a room talking.

 

We can generate billions with casinos. What does the detailed study say? Everyone looking around , what study?

[hotandsticky]

11 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

The loan sharks will make a fortune.

Lending against property and then foreclosing on it when they inevitably lose. 

 

 

No change there.

 

 

It has been happening for decades and I doubt the casinos will bring a halt to the 'village casinos' where they play hi-lo etc.

[MalcolmB]

17 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

No change there.

 

 

It has been happening for decades and I doubt the casinos will bring a halt to the 'village casinos' where they play hi-lo etc.

A big difference is that in the village casinos the money is lost to other local villages so goes round and round.

A big casino will suck it all out.

[oxo1947]

 

Will it be "London Rules"....somehow doubt it...... probably follow the USA model with even less chance of winning...

[champers]

MGM (China); in the last week; have expressed an interest in operating Thai casinos, Thai companies will build the other facilities. (source Bangkok Post and others).

[kingstonkid]

8 hours ago, Rockjockey said:

Having worked as a croupier in casinos in London, Iran and Greece I for one hope they don't open them here in Thailand. They are the cause of such misery, desperation and addiction because the only winners are the casinos. Thais will be like lambs to the slaughter. As a croupier I saw it first hand. 

 

The only way to win is to play games that re not against the house.  It will be interesting to see if they try to get on the WSOP run.

 

 

Anyoe know if ther are any card counting school starting

 

[MrJ2U]

Very important to make these Casinos glamorous and inviting.

 

They'll need to take lessons from Singapore and Makao.

 

 

 

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

A big difference is that in the village casinos the money is lost to other local villages so goes round and round.

A big casino will suck it all out.

But the Buffett will offer more than crickets and sinewy chicken.

[MrJ2U]

1 hour ago, Adventurer1 said:

So gambling is ok. 

It's done everyday in Thailand.

 

Hopefully now it'll be done in nice air-conditioned casinos.

[Galong]

It aligns with the 'make money any way you can other than working for it' mentality. This will, of course, backfire for almost everyone.

[BangkokHank]

7 hours ago, kuzmabruk said:

Some people on this forum don’t understand the wealth that has been accumulated in Thailand, by Thais. 

Not by gambling.

[john donson]

come thais do it anyway, hopefully some will go to ... elite pockets... lol

[Gilligan In Drag]

If people don't have any money, how can you steal it from them

by opening casinos all over the place?

[Jimjim1]

15 hours ago, webfact said:

significant backing from business leaders and has strong support from the Prime Minister.

And the Chinese triads will be all over it like a rash 

[Deputy7]

And the Mafia and drugs and crime will follow, just like everywhere else that has Gambling Casinos. This will be a big mistake Thailand, please don’t go down this road!!!

[kiwikeith]

17 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

The loan sharks will make a fortune.

Lending against property and then foreclosing on it when they inevitably lose. 

Pawn shops will appear everywhere, Thais will sell their gold first, then borrow money, steal their mothers land ect ect, on a much larger scale than ever b4. 

[Luuk Chaai]

16 hours ago, crazykopite said:

Gambling is more addictive than smoking weed but I don’t see any officials giving an opinion on it More Thais will end up killing themselves as the gamble away there lives and thats vey dad 

 

I can see it now.     young hostesses strolling up to customers at the BlackJack table,,   Drinks Sir ?  Cigarettes ? Ganja ?

 that will help break them down and keep them glued to that seat

[steven100]

13 hours ago, Cabradelmar said:

which part?

all .... hope they lose the lot, house, car, job, family, everything,  I couldn't care less .....   

[herfiehandbag]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

The casinos will occupy no more than 5% of the space within these complexes, which will also feature hotels and various entertainment facilities,” Julapun explained

Chrome pole dancing platforms probably occupy a mere few per cent of the floor space of "Nana Plaza" but they are the central reason for it's existence.

 

Who does he think he is kidding if he thinks people will flock to these casinos for "hotels and various entertainment facilities

[mberbae]

With over 80% of the Country in Debt.....How is this even Logical ???

[Burma Bill]

3 hours ago, mberbae said:

With over 80% of the Country in Debt.....How is this even Logical ???

 

Yes indeed, BUT as I have said previously, if gambling in casinos becomes legal within Thailand, the Government should ban Thais from participating, allowing only foreigners. 

For many years now, Thais (as foreigners) have regularly gambled, and still do, at casinos across the border in Burma, Cambodia and Laos,  countries which have banned their nationals from gambling in casinos. Thais have always found money somehow to gamble across the border.

[Cabradelmar]

6 hours ago, steven100 said:

all .... hope they lose the lot, house, car, job, family, everything,  I couldn't care less .....   

and they couldn't less about you. it's a draw.

[steven100]

6 hours ago, mberbae said:

With over 80% of the Country in Debt.....How is this even Logical ???

it's a recipe for disaster and poverty ...  isn't it great    

[MrJ2U]

17 hours ago, kiwikeith said:

Pawn shops will appear everywhere

There not really pawnshops but companies willing to lend you money against the deeds on your property.

 

There everywhere right now with or without casinos.