Report Thais Say No to Casinos: Majority Stand Against Complexes

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Thais continue to express firm opposition to the government's plan for entertainment complexes, including casinos, according to a recent NIDA Poll. Conducted from 16 to 16–18 June 2025, the survey reached 1,310 citizens from diverse demographics.

 

The results show that 56.72% stand against both entertainment complexes and casinos in Thailand, while 24.12% support the idea. Interestingly, 8.78% back the concept of entertainment venues without gambling facilities, and 9.01% remain undecided.

 

Even if these complexes were privately funded, generating between 12 and 12–39 billion baht per year, 84.15% of the dissenters still oppose them. Of those asked, only 11.31% endorse entertainment hubs minus casinos under private investment, illustrating a staunch resistance to gambling.

 

Government proposals for anti-money laundering and entry controls have barely swayed opinions. A substantial 81.47% of respondents continue to reject both concepts, regardless of security measures, favouring a more conservative approach to public leisure activities.

 

Revenue from these complexes, intended for education, infrastructure, and vulnerable groups, also fails to impress. With 78.21% refusing the initiative, the proposed benefits do not seem to outweigh public disapproval of gambling-related developments.

 

When asked about the legislative fate of a draft bill on these complexes, 37.10% predict its rejection, while only 19.85% foresee its passage. The suggested introduction of a national referendum receives more support, with 61.60% backing the idea, indicating a desire for broader public input on this contentious issue.

 

The poll highlights a nationwide scepticism towards integrating casinos into entertainment complexes, with financial incentives and legislative measures struggling to change minds.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-23

 

 

 

[JimHuaHin]

What the Thai people think or want is irrelevant; it is all about what the powerful business families and associated groups want, even if it means Thailand will sink.

[edwinchester]

There are more than 50 million people older than 18 years living in Thailand. A poll of only 1310 of those people being asked loaded questions is absolutely unrepresentative of the true support or lack of support for this project.

As an observation wifeys sister is a right wing monarchist, can't say any more than that. She belongs to a group, some would call it a cult, vehemently opposed to Taksin and this casino project but come the 1st and 16th of every month they are all buying their lottery tickets and playing the local mafia run lotto.

Ask the 'right' question in any poll and you can get any result you want.

[OneZero]

Quote: "Ask the 'right' question in any poll and you can get any result you want."

I have no idea if these specific polls questions were biased /loaded.  But there is a lot of truth to the above quote.

[Zack61]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

generating between 12 and 12–39 billion baht per year,

Mostly from the local average Joe who already is deep in debt. 

[OneZero]

2 minutes ago, Zack61 said:

Mostly from the local average Joe who already is deep in debt. 

I thought "the average Joe" was not qualified financially to enter.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Thais continue to express firm opposition to the government's plan for entertainment complexes, including casinos, according to a recent NIDA Poll

The government doesn't give a rats what the people want.. this is what they want.

[Destiny1990]

What is wrong with the concept foreigner loosing his money in Thailand casinos?

[Nickcage49]

Yup. I agree. Nothing good will come of it.

[cjinchiangrai]

A great decision, I have seen the economic destruction casinos bring, first hand.

[WHansen]

If casinos go ahead, i can see chinese money building them and then being full of chinese gambling addicts.

[newnative]

They needn't worry, those opposed.  Just endless talk, talk, talk with no action, like everything else.  

[thailand49]

Doesn't matter the powers to be will make it happen regardless of the Thai people wishes🤑

[Trippy]

It would be nice if they would legalize poker only. 

 

But it will never happen.

[Magictoad]

A lousy choice. People will gamble when, where, however, they want.

I find casinos rather vulgar but the government should go ahead and reap the profits as they do in other places.

[black tabby12345]

Casino always sucks local money out of the region.

Sucks in organized crimes.

Easily turns the lowlife idiotic gamble addicts into readily available criminal l reserves to their recruiters.

Creates small numbers of job opportunities  to the locals.

But their overall losses are far greater.