Thai Tourism Fears Loom as Casino Debate Heats Up

[webfact]

Reference picture via Wikipedia

 

Legalising casinos in Thailand could scare off Chinese tourists, warns MPs. The opposition claims this controversial move wasn't on the election menu. Could it upset Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's government?

 

The worry? China might cut back visits if gambling is greenlit. They’ve already pulled back on Singapore, the Philippines, and Macau.

 

MP Parit Wacharasindhu says President Xi quizzed the PM on this risky gamble last month.

 

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, Thai Travel chief, has been chatting with China for ages. They're not thrilled about Thai’s potential casino plans. Could it sink arrivals to sunny Thailand?

 

 

 

China’s wary of casinos due to money laundering worries. Even Macau, heavily casino-reliant, felt the sting as Chinese visitor numbers took a dip. But can Thailand afford similar consequences?

 

Despite the revenue allure, Sisdivachr advises caution. Casinos might fill coffers but drain tourists. Some voices argue: skip the gambling, play it safe instead.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-03-26

 

 

[smedly]

this  will ruin Thailand,  it has all to do with Chinese - they have already destroyed cambodia ,  be very careful what you are are doing, gambelng goes against everything  I understand about  buddhism

 

time for Anutin to visit the local temple

 

The Shins -disgustingly rich ,how on earth the people put up with this is beyond understanding 

 

better be prepared for the huge individual  debt - increase in crime, and the money lending ass## 

 

there is so much wrong, I pity Thailand  if they continue on this path

[henryford1958]

3 minutes ago, smedly said:

this  will ruin Thailand,  it has all to do with Chinese - they have already destroyed cambodia ,  be very careful what you are are doing, gambelng goes against everything  I understand about  buddhism

 

time for Anutin to visit the local temple

 

The Shins -disgustingly rich ,how on earth the people put up with this is beyond understanding 

 

Cambodia didn't care, Thailand won't care, so long as the elites get their mouths in the trough.

[Jeff the Chef]

7 minutes ago, smedly said:

this  will ruin Thailand,  it has all to do with Chinese - they have already destroyed cambodia ,  be very careful what you are are doing, gambelng goes against everything  I understand about  buddhism

 

time for Anutin to visit the local temple

 

The Shins -disgustingly rich ,how on earth the people put up with this is beyond understanding 

 

The village Matriarch died the other week, she was 96, lovely woman, so she ends up laid out inthe local Temple for 5 days as is the tradition, all the local big wigs are there every night for the prayers from the Monks and the immediate family sleep in the Temple. My Mrs says she's going to sleep over on the last 2 nights, why's that says I, she laughs and says we're having a game of "dummy rummy" and there's money to be won.

No sooner are the chairs stacked up then the cards come out, before I go home there's 3 lots of 4 playing cards and a crowd playing the Thai bingo/roulette game, I love Thailand.

[SHA 2 BKK]

27 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

The village Matriarch died the other week, she was 96, lovely woman, so she ends up laid out inthe local Temple for 5 days as is the tradition, all the local big wigs are there every night for the prayers from the Monks and the immediate family sleep in the Temple. My Mrs says she's going to sleep over on the last 2 nights, why's that says I, she laughs and says we're having a game of "dummy rummy" and there's money to be won.

No sooner are the chairs stacked up then the cards come out, before I go home there's 3 lots of 4 playing cards and a crowd playing the Thai bingo/roulette game, I love Thailand.

I was at a similar funeral last month.  Around came the lottery seller.  Into the Temple Grounds.  Those in attendance asked the Monk to choose the lucky tickets which he obligingly did.   
 

They say Australians would bet on two flys crawling up a wall - but I couldn’t imagine even the most well seasoned punter having a bet at the Church during a funeral.  

[quake]

Go there Thailand.

Moving into the 21st century.  

Good job, maybe. 

 

[Jeff the Chef]

10 minutes ago, SHA 2 BKK said:

I was at a similar funeral last month.  Around came the lottery seller.  Into the Temple Grounds.  Those in attendance asked the Monk to choose the lucky tickets which he obligingly did.   
 

They say Australians would bet on two flys crawling up a wall - but I couldn’t imagine even the most well seasoned punter having a bet at the Church during a funeral.  

 

Yes, I forgot about that, there like fly's here, on the actual burning day, after all the bowing and robs for the Monks give away we get to line up to tap the coffin and a quick head bow, came down the steps and get a new 20baht note in a plastic wrapper, Madam immediately looks at the numbers and they both match, lol.

Straight off to the lottery sales woman to buy a 100bahts worth of tickets, she knows full well I won't normally buy any but I've been on the Thai whiskey all day and give in, needless to say we didn't win anything.  

[Tropicalevo]

Gambling at funerals in Thailand is very common.

I was told that gambling is part of the reason as to why the funerals last so long.

[edwinchester]

Simple, sign on the entrance 'No Chinese'.

[Purdey]

Thailand has fewer billionaires than in the West or China. However, people should worry about increasing gambling because the government has done little to upgrade education here. People see gambling as getting rich without having to work hard. Build the middle class then consider gambling as a form of entertainment.

[JoseThailand]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

The worry? China might cut back visits if gambling is greenlit. They’ve already pulled back on Singapore, the Philippines, and Macau.

 

But not on Cambodia hahahahaha

[DonniePeverley]

Absolutely nuts. 

 

Did they not see the mess in Cambodia ?

 

Singapore is a complete different market. You have executives, bankers, living in Singapore. The visitors to Thailand are cheap mass tourists on budget holidays, with crumbling infrustructure - it's going to do exactly the same as what was happening in Cambodia. 

 

When you open this can of worms they will not stop and be building everywhere. Then destruction. 

[MalcolmB]

It will be good having casinos.

Thais gamble anyway, constant stream of buses going to border casinos.
It will be good for the freelance whores also.

No one will be forced to go to the casinos, a lot of negativity on this thread.

Live and let live

[DonniePeverley]

16 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

It will be good having casinos.

Thais gamble anyway, constant stream of buses going to border casinos.
It will be good for the freelance whores also.

No one will be forced to go to the casinos, a lot of negativity on this thread.

Live and let live

 

 

What happens is that they completely take over. You open pandors boxes and they will build them everywhere. Can you trust the thai administration to curb them? Not a a chance.

 

They'll build so many for Chinese launders that the y will build them on beach zones if they can.

[blaze master]

19 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

It will be good for the freelance whores also.

 

I believe the proper term is hoz.

[Gknrd]

I am so looking forward to it. Bringing my whole family to the grand opening.  

I'll be the one on the far left, smoking a joint, with a hooker on my left arm , holding poker chips and ready to partake in this family wholesome event.  

[Jim Blue]

I always preferred a game of bingo myself !

[MalcolmB]

1 hour ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

What happens is that they completely take over. You open pandors boxes and they will build them everywhere. Can you trust the thai administration to curb them? Not a a chance.

 

They'll build so many for Chinese launders that the y will build them on beach zones if they can.

The plan is for only four I believe.

The illegal casinos will close down.

Less corruption is a good thing. 

[DonniePeverley]

17 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

The plan is for only four I believe.

The illegal casinos will close down.

Less corruption is a good thing. 

 

Absolute nonsense. 

 

Once you allow 4 to open, that's the box opened. Then slowly with a few backhanders they open everywhere. 

 

Mark my words, see Cambodia, there will be regions changed and dedicated to casinos. Wall to wall casinos. Pure filth. 

[MalcolmB]

5 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Wall to wall casinos. Pure filth.

Only if you lose. 
 

[Lucky Bones]

14 hours ago, Jeff the Chef said:

 

The village Matriarch died the other week, she was 96, lovely woman, so she ends up laid out inthe local Temple for 5 days as is the tradition, all the local big wigs are there every night for the prayers from the Monks and the immediate family sleep in the Temple. My Mrs says she's going to sleep over on the last 2 nights, why's that says I, she laughs and says we're having a game of "dummy rummy" and there's money to be won.

No sooner are the chairs stacked up then the cards come out, before I go home there's 3 lots of 4 playing cards and a crowd playing the Thai bingo/roulette game, I love Thailand.

Fair call. When I first observed the chair stacking & the "games" appearing I was a tad taken aback. Now after being around our village for over 12 years, it is a part of the celebration of life. Yes, a lot to like about Thailand, especially in villages.🙃🙃

[Jeff the Chef]

1 hour ago, Lucky Bones said:

Fair call. When I first observed the chair stacking & the "games" appearing I was a tad taken aback. Now after being around our village for over 12 years, it is a part of the celebration of life. Yes, a lot to like about Thailand, especially in villages.🙃🙃

 

Thanks, I'm a smoker and always end up at the back with the bulk of the village Ne'er-do-well's, being plied with Thai whiskey and dodgy rice wine, Madam or her big sister always good for a yakyak down my ear if I go to far, lol

Funerals are never sad over here, last Saturday my Thai friends son "made a Monk" now there's a party 🤪

[DonniePeverley]

Any sort of bastian this country had with it's culture has been slowly erorded these past few years.

 

This will be another kick in the teeth. 

[hotsun]

4 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

The plan is for only four I believe.

The illegal casinos will close down.

Less corruption is a good thing. 

They were only illegal because the government isnt getting any of that money. Corruption is only ok when the government benefits. Congrats on adapting to the thai way of critical thinking skills

[jcmj]

They are just laying the groundwork for the explanation why there are fewer Chinese visitors this year and seeing what excuse they can get away with to try to bring the cheap group tours back. 

[MalcolmB]

9 hours ago, hotsun said:

They were only illegal because the government isnt getting any of that money. Corruption is only ok when the government benefits. Congrats on adapting to the thai way of critical thinking skills

Says the simpleton.