Picture courtesy: Sanook

 

In a significant political development, Newin Chidchob, a key political figure in Thailand, has openly dismissed Thaksin Shinawatra's proposal to legalise casinos. This decision came out during a private discussion between these two influential persons earlier this month.

 

Thaksin, father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has been trying to gain support for his casino initiative as part of larger entertainment complexes in popular tourist destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, and Pattaya, where gambling is currently illegal. These proposed casinos would be part of grand entertainment centres aiming to attract tourism and boost the economy.

 

Despite Thaksin's efforts, Newin maintained a clear stance against the casino plan, expressing concerns over potential social and economic issues, such as debt and addiction among the public. Newin's stance is pivotal since his Bhumjaithai Party holds considerable influence within Thailand's ruling coalition, which includes Thaksin's Pheu Thai Party.

However, it is understood that Newin is not entirely against the notion of building entertainment complexes. He may support such projects on the condition that they exclude gambling activities. This stipulation underscores a key difference in vision between the two political figures.

 

Thaksin has been under scrutiny for potentially overstepping legal and political boundaries by allegedly wielding undue influence over his daughter's government and coalition partners. In light of this, investigations are already underway by several bodies, notably the Election Commission and Constitutional Court, to examine these allegations further, reported Thai Newsroom an Reuters.

 

In conclusion, while Thaksin continues to push forward ambitious projects, including the joint Thai-Cambodian initiative in the Gulf of Thailand, his casino plan faces a formidable challenge with Newin’s rejection. New developments in this political story could significantly impact Thailand’s legal and economic landscape in the near future.

 

-- 2024-10-21

 

 

I wonder what all the Thai people who all over Thailand gamble illegally think about this.

Big casinos just in a few locations and maybe only for foreigners?

And all the small casinos where Thai people gamble will be kept illegal so that the police can collect their tea money? Or what's the idea? 

 

 

I can't really see the point of these entertainment complexes if the casinos are dropped.

 

There's plenty going on without them as it stands.

 

Not that I'm a fan of the casino idea.....it reeks of being yet another trough for the rich and powerful.

Edited October 21, 20241 yr by Will B Good

Too much money to be made with casinos, Thaksin will find a way.

Casino, pootang, drugs, the portfolio of the politicians that support the weed programs.

10 minutes ago, Thailand said:

Too much money to be made with casinos, Thaksin will find a way.

 

Maybe they're already making a lot of money from casinos and don't need Thaksin messing it up with his own ideas. 

Wouldn't this feed into his current EC case for openly meddling in politics?

Someone's unhappy he may not get a cut any more. 😀

3 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I wonder what all the Thai people who all over Thailand gamble illegally think about this.

Big casinos just in a few locations and maybe only for foreigners?

And all the small casinos where Thai people gamble will be kept illegal so that the police can collect their tea money? Or what's the idea? 

 

In Monaco the casino is for foreigners only. 

Thailand is not even able to organize its state lottery with uniform ticket prices. On the other hand, the serious and responsible operation of a casino under state control is much more complex. I doubt that the profits of a state casino will really benefit the general public. There will be only a few VIPs who like to fill their own pockets. 

11 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I wonder what all the Thai people who all over Thailand gamble illegally think about this.

Big casinos just in a few locations and maybe only for foreigners?

And all the small casinos where Thai people gamble will be kept illegal so that the police can collect their tea money? Or what's the idea? 

 

 

More tourists at any cost.

So one former politician with no official position disagrees with a proposal from another former politician with no official position? Glad to see that public policy is being made by the people's representatives and not by random strongmen... 🙄

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Thaksin has been under scrutiny for potentially overstepping legal and political boundaries by allegedly wielding undue influence over his daughter's government and coalition partners.

Potentially... it's bleedin obvious.

The biggest risk with casinos in Thailand is that large complexes will be built, and then the government will change hands and gambling will be rejected. It happened right next door in Cambodia and it left cities like Sihanoukville looking like abandoned ghost towns. There are dozens of buildings that were abandoned in the midst of construction, and it's a horrendous sight. 

 

 

Edited October 21, 20241 yr by spidermike007

The clash of the dinosaurs 2: Casino Battlegrounds

Oh dear...this is not good.

The peasants are revolting.

Newin Rejects Thaksin's Casino Plan for Thailand

also

 Newin is not entirely against the notion of building entertainment complexes

 

SAME HEADLINE 

back scratch = back scratch. weed = casinos

Casinos are for losers. 

Currently, those with a few million can go abroad to gamble. At home, the poorest Thais bet on football and insect races. 

Casinos in Thailand will lead to (more) corruption and create more families thrown into poverty because gambling for them means wealth with no hard work.

1 hour ago, Sorted2024 said:

Newin Rejects Thaksin's Casino Plan for Thailand

also

 Newin is not entirely against the notion of building entertainment complexes

 

SAME HEADLINE 

Lots of grey in Newin's statement. Anutin is the leader of BJT and he backs the entertainment complexes with the casinos. Rejecting gambling has been BJT's stance so it is not suprising for the party founder to be seen to back that up. However the party is also not against policies that benefit the nation economy. Ultimately it will be Anutin as the Deputy PM and interior minister to agree with the decision for the complex and casino that counts. 

1 hour ago, Zack61 said:

Casinos are for losers. 

Will the monks be allowed in then. They just lost B1 billion to a fraud scheme if a true story.😀

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2887708/thai-monks-lose-over-b1bn-to-stock-fraud

Slightly off topic, but has anyone else noticed that the Thai news are not saying Thaksin is a de facto prime minister any more, they have changed His title to Father of the prime minister.......I wonder why......

5 hours ago, Zack61 said:

Casinos are for losers. 

 

Funny.....But also very true....Even most winners are losers eventually....

 

20 hours ago, KhaoNiaw said:

 

Maybe they're already making a lot of money from casinos and don't need Thaksin messing it up with his own ideas. 

You are right. A friend who worked in a casino in Bangkok told me that the casino that operate are owned by the military or the police. She said they are real casino's not tiny card school mum and pop types.

And I just read in the news that Thaksin not at all interferes in Thai politics...

21 hours ago, Will B Good said:

 

I can't really see the point of these entertainment complexes if the casinos are dropped.

 

There's plenty going on without them as it stands.

 

Not that I'm a fan of the casino idea.....it reeks of being yet another trough for the rich and powerful.

Look to Cambodia - towns have been decimated by Chinese casinos . Sihanoukville is now a s****le that makes Pattaya look like Monaco

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The biggest risk with casinos in Thailand is that large complexes will be built, and then the government will change hands and gambling will be rejected. It happened right next door in Cambodia and it left cities like Sihanoukville looking like abandoned ghost towns. There are dozens of buildings that were abandoned in the midst of construction, and it's a horrendous sight. 

 

 

 

The Mojave Desert must have looked like that for a while - but at least they completed the job - Viva Las Vegas!

19 hours ago, still kicking said:

In Monaco the casino is for foreigners only. 

Correct !!! The citizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter the gaming rooms of the casino. The rule banning all Monegasques from gambling or working at the casino was an initiative of Princess Caroline, the de facto regent of Monaco, who amended the rules on moral grounds.

5 hours ago, Graham8888 said:

Look to Cambodia - towns have been decimated by Chinese casinos . Sihanoukville is now a s****le that makes Pattaya look like Monaco

Not true 30% Monegasques are millionaires