Thai Students Rally Against Casino Legalisation Amid Crime Fears

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In a spirited stand against the proposed legalisation of online gambling and casinos, over 50 students from Ramkhamhaeng University descended upon Government House in Bangkok with a letter to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, voicing their condemnation of the policy. Dressed in symbolic cardboard boxes, these students aimed to highlight the financial ruin that can follow gambling.

 

Worathep Pannen, leading the charge as president of the student council, laid into the government for pushing forward with amendments to at least three laws to legalise online gambling.

 

Advocates for these amendments argue that by regulating an already booming illegal industry, the government can bring order and potentially generate significant revenue. However, the students fear it will open Pandora's box, turning Thailand into a hotspot for money laundering and criminal activity.

 

Expressing these concerns, Worathep cited a 2023 report from the Center for Gambling Studies which showed a staggering 47% of Thai youth, aged between 15-25, were influenced by peers to gamble. More than 700,000 first-time gamblers reportedly tried their luck online, driven by slick advertising and endorsements from popular figures.

 

"Gambling addiction mirrors the dangers of drug addiction," Worathep warned, stressing its capacity to derail academic performance, foster violence, and contribute to mental health struggles, including depression and suicide.

 

 

 

With the youth holding the future of Thailand in their hands, there is anxiety about the long-term impacts of government-sanctioned gambling.

 

The student protest, led by Worathep and his peers, laid out four clear demands. First, they urge the government to scrap plans for legalising online gambling and casinos, arguing it would harm students academically and financially while straining personal relationships.

 

They also demand public hearings, ensuring that citizens can voice their concerns over policies that might impact future generations dramatically.

 

Next on their agenda, the student groups are launching a petition aiming for 50,000 signatures to boost their cause. Furthermore, they appeal to student unions, youth organisations, and the broader public to join forces in blocking any attempts to legalise gambling.

 

Finally, the students call for policies that safeguard Thai citizens, especially the youth, instead of those that might put them at risk. As Thailand sits at a crossroads, these students hope to steer their nation away from an age-old vice, insisting that authorities focus on protecting and nurturing their country’s most valuable asset – its young people, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-18

 

 

[Artisi]

Change is slowly coming and will accelerate as the dinosaurs die out. 

 

It can't happen soon enough if Thailand wants to survive as a meaningful nation.