Protesters Storm Finance Ministry Against Casino Legalisation Bill

[snoop1130]

Pictures courtesy of The Nation

 

Protesters stormed Thailand's Finance Ministry yesterday, demanding the government abandon its plan to legalise casinos. The demonstration, led by three prominent groups—the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, the Dharma Army, and the Centre of People for Monarchy Protection—accused Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat of supporting a bill they allege prioritises Thai gamblers over foreign tourists.

 

Having camped outside Government House since Sunday, the groups intensified their efforts by directly confronting the ministry advocating for the bill. Their primary demand is the cessation of the entertainment complex bill aimed at legalising casinos in the country.

 

The crux of the protesters' anger is Deputy Finance Minister Julapun, charged with drafting the bill. Protesters accuse him of neglecting safeguards that would restrict Thai citizens' access to casinos, particularly a Council of State recommendation requiring Thai patrons to maintain a bank balance of 50 million baht. A protest leader claimed, "Julapun's removal of financial restrictions shows the government's true intent to legalise gambling for Thais, using tourists as a smokescreen."

 

 

Adding to the casino controversy, protesters reiterated a longstanding demand from March last year, calling for the Finance Ministry to seize 46 billion baht in assets from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, blaming him for past policies they claim damaged the nation.

 

A brief response from Sikharin Limnijsorakul, a senior aide to Julapun, accepting the protesters' letter, failed to ease the tension. With no signs of compromise, the protesters remain resolute, vowing to continue their campaign until the government retracts the bill, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-07

 

 

[Pique Dard]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Protesters stormed Thailand's Finance Ministry yesterday, demanding the government abandon its plan to legalise casinos

Yes, they must protest! In a highly polarized society where on one side there are the rich and on the other, extremely poor people - some forced to sell themselves to survive...- the legalisation of casinos will only increase these inequalities

[hotchilli]

The government will ignore the people over profits for the mega rich.

Put it to a national vote.

[wombat]

If all those crew are protesting it must be a done deal ...

[cookie1974]

Protest all they want, it wont make any difference, what the bigwigs want, the bigwigs get, and everyone else do not matter

[newbee2022]

I read in another blog, that someone paid one million dollar to bail Thaksin out some months ago.

In return he promised him casino licenses.

Now he has to finalize the deal.

Another (corrupt) deal maker😳

[BangkokReady]

6 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

some forced to sell themselves to survive

 

Who told you this?

[ronster]

The rich were heard chanting " we want casinos, we want casinos ! "

[watchcat]

28 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

Who told you this?

 

Prostitute fiends?

 

[thailand49]

A greater stance by the people got to happen for what is 99.9% sure to happen.

These leaders lead for themselves, greed, lies and not as they want it to appear to the people. Time to stand up and be counted.

[a3tsw]

7 minutes ago, watchcat said:

 

Prostitute fiends?

 

So , Bob then...🤣

[ronnie50]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

The government will ignore the people over profits for the mega rich.

Put it to a national vote.

Agree a referendum is more appropriate. Having said that, these groups (look at who they are) have another agenda and the casino scheme is an excuse. Destablization of the government is being planned behind closed doors I suspect - and speaking of 'suspect', if true, it will be the same 'suspects' as always that are hatching their schemes. This event, and the Thaksin court vote to deny his travels abroad, were just the beginning. The year 2025 - by October - could be another yellow shirt sh@tshow. Step by step.

[crazykopite]

Big Big mistake you only have to look at a thai individuals personal debt to realise this is a crazy idea the other issue is if you allow a casino to

be built then the laws on gambling need to be changed it’s either legal or illegal you cannot have it both ways !

[Zack61]

Casinos are yet another tool to enrich the filthy rich whilst they only offer the poor a life of further misery and destitution.
Casinos are a cancer and I wish the protesters well in their endeavours to put a stop to them. 

[MalcolmB]

4 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

Casinos are yet another tool to enrich the filthy rich whilst they only offer the poor a life of further misery and destitution.
Casinos are a cancer and I wish the protesters well in their endeavours to put a stop to them. 

Casinos offer the poor a chance to become filthy rich.

They are only a problem if you lose.

And remember, the more you bet, the more you win.

[spidermike007]

Looks like a few dozen protesters out there protesting against something relatively silly, there should be millions upon millions of people out there protesting against a democratically unelected government that's doing absolutely nothing for the people, and moving the country backwards at a breakneck pace.

 

While they're at it they should also be protesting against any army influence, and any army presence in any arm of the Thai government. They are useless, they are not needed, they are not wanted, and they have overextended their welcome. 

[ignore it]

Oh well, 

 

What are the odds?

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, watchcat said:

Prostitute fiends?

 

Along with it being their first week and their ex being abusive. 🙄

[billd766]

2 hours ago, Zack61 said:

Casinos are yet another tool to enrich the filthy rich whilst they only offer the poor a life of further misery and destitution.
Casinos are a cancer and I wish the protesters well in their endeavours to put a stop to them. 

How many poor Thais will be allowed into the casino?

 

Rich Thais, yes

 

So if only rich Thais and tourists will will be affected and lose money, why does if matter to you?

 

BTW rich Thais rarely spend time gambling and losing, that is one reason that they are rich.

[billd766]

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

Casinos offer the poor a chance to become filthy rich.

They are only a problem if you lose.

And remember, the more you bet, the more you win.

Or the more you lose.

[black tabby12345]

10 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

Yes, they must protest! In a highly polarized society where on one side there are the rich and on the other, extremely poor people - some forced to sell themselves to survive...- the legalisation of casinos will only increase these inequalities

 

Mosty agree.

(In any countries), those deep into gambling are often the poor with lesser education.

And the Walk-In(anyone can enter) casino, will certainly worsen their situation.

And it can also impact others who don't gamble.

 

As increased gamble-debtors, can be an easy recruiting ground for the various scammers.

And the scamming often targets ordinary people.

 

[black tabby12345]

After all, Gambling is the Losers' Game.

Statistically, 95% of the betters lose their money, instead of gaining profit.

 

What percentage of people lose money gambling? - Google Search

[JJ-Thailand]

Guess who will own the casino? 😇

[black tabby12345]

4 hours ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Who told you this?

 

Slavery in modern world.

It is often the common problem in the 3rd world countries.

There are quite a few cases where the parents of the very poor families sell their children for own survival/to clear their "Debt".

 

Quite easy to reach for the info, related to that issue.

 

3 Big Issues Facing Girls in the Developing World

 

Child selling - Wikipedia

[CLW]

3 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

Agree a referendum is more appropriate. Having said that, these groups (look at who they are) have another agenda and the casino scheme is an excuse. Destablization of the government is being planned behind closed doors I suspect - and speaking of 'suspect', if true, it will be the same 'suspects' as always that are hatching their schemes. This event, and the Thaksin court vote to deny his travels abroad, were just the beginning. The year 2025 - by October - could be another yellow shirt sh@tshow. Step by step.

Why October?

[black tabby12345]

Are these protestors trying to broaden the support basis of their cause(by using internet effectively)?

Or just rallying on this particular spot(govt bldg)?

 

If they are serious, they better do their best for No Voices from the millions.

 

Otherwise, it is likely to end up as the Little Storm in a cup...

[NoMoonLogistics]

Who needs scam centres and gambling just over the border when you do it more profitably here.

 

....they decided.

[black tabby12345]

5 minutes ago, NoMoonLogistics said:

Who needs scam centres and gambling just over the border when you do it more profitably here.

 

....they decided.

 

Scam Centers an Gambling site, on the border regions.

They can be linked each other.

Casino can create fresh  gambling debtors.

And they are recruited into illicit workforce for the underground industry like scamming.

A kind of makes sense.

[wensiensheng]

6 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

I read in another blog, that someone paid one million dollar to bail Thaksin out some months ago.

In return he promised him casino licenses.

Now he has to finalize the deal.

Another (corrupt) deal maker😳

Might be true, might not. But in reality it’s just an unsubstantiated rumour not backed up by fact

[wensiensheng]

2 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Mosty agree.

(In any countries), those deep into gambling are often the poor with lesser education.

And the Walk-In(anyone can enter) casino, will certainly worsen their situation.

And it can also impact others who don't gamble.

 

As increased gamble-debtors, can be an easy recruiting ground for the various scammers.

And the scamming often targets ordinary people.

 

Agree.

 

What do people mired in debt due to gambling do? Turn to crime is often the answer.