Thai Casinos

[konangrit]

Personally I think it's a great idea.

It would take business away from the ilegal casinos thus taking profits away from criminals which would otherwise be used to fund further criminal activities.

It would attract big spending foreign tourists.

It would discourage big spending Thais from leaving Thailand to gamble in foreign casinos.

It would bring in a large amount of tax.

It would create jobs.

I would have somewhere to play poker.

I know that some people will say that it will encourage problem gamblers, however gambling is rife in the Kingdom already. I do not see it encouraging anyone to gamble who doesn't already.

Anyone have any recent news about what is happening with this proposal?

[chingy_]

casino(gambling) are never a great idea, it is the last source of income, its all depend on the society with common sence, it can ruin a country if not handle properly

[konangrit]

As I said, it is already big business in LoS, I don't forsee legalizing it will create any big problems to Thai society which don't already exist.

[digibum]

As someone who lives in California where we have 5 poker rooms within a half hour drive of my home, Indian casinos all over the state, and we're a 45 minute plane ride from Las Vegas, I'm not sure I agree with many of the people who claim gambling has a negative influence. Some people have gambling problems. There's no doubt about that. Then again, some people have alcohol problems. Most countries don't attempt to ban alcohol though it probably has a wider social impact than gambling does in communities where it's legal.

I always chuckle when, in the US, states attempt to ban casinos yet run lottos. They're just trying to limit the competition. :-) I've seen so many ads for the state lottery that it's almost laughable when the state then becomes very concerned that gambling might lead to some moral decay. They hype up the jackpots when they get big and promote the easy lifestyle that you'll enjoy once you win the big one on billboards, television, radio, and any other media outlet they can buy advertising on. This type of gambling hits those who can afford it least. You don't see huge sales of lotto tickets in Beverly Hills but they seem to do pretty brisk business in the immigrant and low income neighborhoods.

Thailand needs something else for people to do if they want to downplay the sex tourism appeal they currently have. Either they need to start throwing up a bunch of Disney style amusement parks or they should look into developing a Las Vegas style adult entertainment (i.e. gambling) industry that can attract tourists from the local Pacific Rim and the West. Many Caribbean countries have casinos (Bahamas) as do several Central American nations (Cost Rica). I've never heard of anyone complaing about what gambling has done to those nations. If the Thai government was really concerned they could simply ban Thai citizens from being in the casino. Simple solution.

[Totster]

Never been a great fan of Casinos anyway so I voted no....

If they ever do get legalised then I can see Cathay Pacific increasing their daily HK-BKK schedule... Would give the HK chinese somewhere other than Macau to go and spend their bucks

[Padkapow Guy]

The poor thai people will only become more poor and crime rate will go up. I see no good that can come from it . Only a few will actually benefit and that will be the people who already have the money to invest in the casino's.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

Greed and poverty are bad so no, Thai blokes would get even more addicted and families would suffer... I voted no earlier but didn't want to be the first to reply.

It's just another way for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.

I hate going to poi Pet for the visa runs and seeing businessmen with more money than sense frittering loads of cash on silly games when literally outside the front door there are Cambodians with nothing, begging for 1bht, young girls running alongside hand outstretched and an umbrella in the other, burn victims sitting on the floor in the sun all day and men to old and weak to even beg with any motivation.

Yeah, come on cynics, tell me that they are picked up and dropped off each day by lorries and that they return home to well off families if you want but that's not my point - it's no way for a human being to live and seeing human beings having to survive that way would make the Nana worm man count his lucky stars, let alone some ignorant tycoon that passes his oodles of spare time by putting wads of cash into games and machines that only ends up in the accounts of greedier tycoons.

I don't understand it - I'd get much more of a buzz by buying a shitload of food hampers and distributing them out to all the beggars.

Good question though Konangrit.

[wolf5370]

The poor thai people will only become more poor and crime rate will go up. I see no good that can come from it . Only a few will actually benefit and that will be the people who already have the money to invest in the casino's.

I disagree, I know many Thais that have been ruined by the illegal card dens. I am talking about well-to-do Thais. I know one that lost over £500k (that's pounds sterling) in about 18 months. He even lost his house.

The money went straight to the mafia. Every Thai over 16 knows where they can go to gamble if the wish. There are already casinos. Only casinos that do NOT raise revenue for the state, and that will happily take away everything that a punter or his family has. They will give credit too and that's a killer.

Casinos can be set up properly. They can be disallowed from giving credit. They have to pay tax. They can be forced to pay for 'Gamblers Anonymous' type courses. They can protect against and ban cheats and theifs. They can ban underage gamblers. They will hurt the mafia and force illegal establishments to close. They will help combat corruption. They can be governed by a Gaming Commission and licensed.

I agree it would be a bad move if the country did not have a mafia controlled gambling problem to start with, but it has.

[wolf5370]

Scamp,

how will not having casinos in Thailand stop Thais and foreigners going to Myanmar or Cambodia to gamble?

The question isn't whether we should gamble or give to the poor. The gamblers just aren't going to give because there is no casino, they just find somewhere else to gamble - usually illegally.

If anything, it would perhaps clean up the streets (at least locally) and give more money to the authorities in revenue to helpm these people. If the Gov decides to spend the money on a new Jumbo for his nibs instead, then that should be the target for derision.

[john b good]

Personally I think it's a great idea.

It would take business away from the ilegal casinos thus taking profits away from criminals which would otherwise be used to fund further criminal activities.

It would attract big spending foreign tourists.

It would discourage big spending Thais from leaving Thailand to gamble in foreign casinos.

It would bring in a large amount of tax.

It would create jobs.

I would have somewhere to play poker.

I know that some people will say that it will encourage problem gamblers, however gambling is rife in the Kingdom already. I do not see it encouraging anyone to gamble who doesn't already.

Anyone have any recent news about what is happening with this proposal?

IMO 'yes' casino's in Thailand should be legalised.

It would remove all of the nations 'finest' and other scumbags from engaging in the protection rackets that exist at the moment.

And as kokangrit wrote.......

As I said, it is already big business in LoS, I don't forsee legalizing it will create any big problems to Thai society which don't already exist.

I agree it would (the legalisation) would not change anything other than a nice tax take for the state which could be used for many of the existing social issues that require funding in the realm. Am I dreaming

[konangrit]

Very well said Wolf, totally agree with all you have to say on this subject.

There would have to be strongly enforced rules on who exactly could run or operate a casino so as not to allow the people you are trying to take business away from to become involved. Maybe that is too much to ask for in a country as corrupt as Thailand, but it is possible. Failing that they could be state run casinos, which could allay Scamps concern about the rich getting richer.

[Totster]

Ok it seems like people are in favor of legalising casinos... but do you really want to see the massive hotel/casino/showhouses that you find in Vegas in LOS. I don't.

The fact is they would probably be built by the same people who run the "casino scene" now, these people would rejoice at the chance to go "straight"... these businesses could still be used to launder money, massive bribes would change hands and it would all be "legal"

Remember what Vegas was in the past, built, owned and run by the mob

[TRIPxCORE]

I voted yes, that casinos should be legalized in LOS. Gambling is already widespread here and legalizing it will only benefit the states coffers instead of seeing the money flee the country into Cambodia. What the government does with this money will probably be of no benefit to the people of Thailand, but at least it will stay in-country.

I like to gamble.....Pai-Gow anyone??????????

[Padkapow Guy]

The poor thai people will only become more poor and crime rate will go up. I see no good that can come from it . Only a few will actually benefit and that will be the people who already have the money to invest in the casino's.

I disagree, I know many Thais that have been ruined by the illegal card dens. I am talking about well-to-do Thais. I know one that lost over £500k (that's pounds sterling) in about 18 months. He even lost his house.

The money went straight to the mafia. Every Thai over 16 knows where they can go to gamble if the wish. There are already casinos. Only casinos that do NOT raise revenue for the state, and that will happily take away everything that a punter or his family has. They will give credit too and that's a killer.

Casinos can be set up properly. They can be disallowed from giving credit. They have to pay tax. They can be forced to pay for 'Gamblers Anonymous' type courses. They can protect against and ban cheats and theifs. They can ban underage gamblers. They will hurt the mafia and force illegal establishments to close. They will help combat corruption. They can be governed by a Gaming Commission and licensed.

I agree it would be a bad move if the country did not have a mafia controlled gambling problem to start with, but it has.

Do you really think any money from these casino is going to help any of poor citizens of Thailand. I mean come on , were talking about one of the most corrupt goverments in the world. This is Thailand not fantasy Island. All I can see coming from this is the poor farmer or street vendor loosing everything and the casino owners owning the majority of Thailand. I have seen a casino start up near my town and along with it came the increased crime rate.

AS I said before no real good will come from it. Except for the Casino owners will become billionaires.

[Loose Cannon]

I doubt that gambling will increase much even if you had casinos on every street corner. The Thais already gamble on everything that moves - only difference is that they gamble with mafia-like people at the moment - people with accounts with all the big bookies in Europe. They just offer the same odds -5 percent and offer that to Thais - pocketing the 5% risk and taxfree and leaving the common Thai worse off than he would have been using a big, organised company. As for the casino-based games - they are already so widespread in the back alleys that they are hardly needed. However, I think the normal thai punter is less likely to lose his head among suits and security guards than he is drinking SangSom in a back alley with friends and crazy people.

Come on, legalise it, educate openly about the dangers of gambling instead of making it illegal and a deadly sin, use the tax money for whatever and leave the mafia scrambling.

[falong]

Singapore is making plans for a casinio as we speak.

28 black

[cobra]

In most professional run gaming industries the profit margin isn't as great as you might think. That margin however is guaranteed by incontrovertible statistically odds ... House 51%, Mark, 49%, over time money will be made, lots of money ....

A little town in a desert called "Las Vegas" brings in more in a month than the GNP of most 3rd world nations ...

18% of that goes for city services thru taxes, (fire, welfare, road maint ...),

Prostitution may be the oldest profession, but gambling is right behind it, you'll never stop it, we gamble in life everyday, be it life style, walking against the light, smoking. If I want to gamble away my hard earned money because I find it an enjoyable way to pass the time so be it, if I delude myself that I'm going to win more than I lose so be it.

You probably picked up I'm for legalization of all gaming industries ... 8's and ace's .... or pulling to an inside straight ...... Scotch neat, now deal !!

[bkkmadness]

[quote=

It's just another way for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.

I don't understand it - I'd get much more of a buzz by buying a shitload of food hampers and distributing them out to all the beggars.

Good question though Konangrit.

That's the same with most things Scamp, including booze. Why don't you blow your weekend booze budget on the nana worm or by buying a shitload of food for the beggars. Nice to talk about it but in the end, lets see your actions. If you do it, well done mate, and all power to you. If you don't then why take the moral highground and say you would get more of a buzz out of it when in the end you don't?

[bkkmadness]

how do i get the proper right quotes with the wite boxes and all that?

[JemJem]

The best approch would be a 'pilot project'. There should be ONE casino built to operate (possibly in Bangkok), and the initial license should be for, say, 1 year. Then, towards the end of this period, weighing the pluses and minuses, a long-term decision can be made regarding whether to renew the license of this casino for several more years (and whether to open up more casinos in the country).

Regards,

Jem

[chingy_]

i think that if they were to open casino, they would have to take it to an island somewhere in the gulf, use that only island for gambling casino, built a mini airport and a dock, i figure that only high class and middle class would have the fund to travel all the way to gamble, in that way people with money can take a vacation and gamble at the same time, it wouldn't affect city life, and money stay in Thailand, make it harder access for poor people to come too

[Totster]

how do i get the proper right quotes with the wite boxes and all that?

Like this....

[Totster]

how do i get the proper right quotes with the wite boxes and all that?

Like this....

But seriously...

Click on this link

How to quote

[bkkmadness]

Totster

Thanks mate.

[ChiangMaiThai]

Greed and poverty are bad so no, Thai blokes would get even more addicted and families would suffer... I voted no earlier but didn't want to be the first to reply.

It's just another way for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer.

I hate going to poi Pet for the visa runs and seeing businessmen with more money than sense frittering loads of cash on silly games when literally outside the front door there are Cambodians with nothing, begging for 1bht, young girls running alongside hand outstretched and an umbrella in the other, burn victims sitting on the floor in the sun all day and men to old and weak to even beg with any motivation.

Yeah, come on cynics, tell me that they are picked up and dropped off each day by lorries and that they return home to well off families if you want but that's not my point - it's no way for a human being to live and seeing human beings having to survive that way would make the Nana worm man count his lucky stars, let alone some ignorant tycoon that passes his oodles of spare time by putting wads of cash into games and machines that only ends up in the accounts of greedier tycoons.

I don't understand it - I'd get much more of a buzz by buying a shitload of food hampers and distributing them out to all the beggars.

Good question though Konangrit.

Its not a fair world. Those that have money, especially those Asians that have money, often want to gamble it. They will do this whether Thailand legalizes it or not. Therefore, it is simple logic to legalize, monitor, collect taxes. The fact that those who don't have money will also gamble it is irrelevant. The casinso won't encourage more gambling. They will simply redirect the current gambling and benefit the public enormously by way of taxes and jobs.

[ChiangMaiThai]

The best approch would be a 'pilot project'. There should be ONE casino built to operate (possibly in Bangkok), and the initial license should be for, say, 1 year. Then, towards the end of this period, weighing the pluses and minuses, a long-term decision can be made regarding whether to renew the license of this casino for several more years (and whether to open up more casinos in the country).

Regards,

Jem

Who's going to invest in a casino that may bot be able to operate after one year? It would have to be a white wall, plastic chairs and cheap lighting operation. Not the right atmosphere.

Chingy, I agree. Build it in a location that costs to get to, where those in danger of losing everything on one roll of the wheel will have difficulty reaching. Don't build it in the center of bangkok with 2 BTS stops connected directly to a seat at a black jack table.

[Totster]

Build it in a location that costs to get to,

Great... I can see it now " Visit Las Pha-Ngan, home of the Thai Casino....."

[drummer]

and give more money to the authorities in revenue to helpm these people. If the Gov decides to spend the money on a new Jumbo for his nibs instead, then that should be the target for derision.

Well said. Prohibition does not work. Legalizing it allows for the state to oversee it, minimize the sharking, and make money from it. If they don't use some of those Bhat on the poor, that is a different issue entirely. But even then, would you rather the money go to a government, who at least has to *pretend* they are helping the poor or to organized crime, with no pretensions?

Besides that, I am pretty libretarian when it comes to social issues. As long as you are not hurting someone else, I find it hard to take the moral high ground. I just don't know enough. Besides, you might as well let people do what they want cause they're probably gonna do it anyway. You might as well track it and make money from it (or someone else will!)

[drummer]

Build it in a location that costs to get to,

If you make it *too* tough, then you still allow illegal gambling by the poorer folks. I think to keep out the poor in Thailand, you really only need to make it about 15 miles outside a city, and charge tourist prices for the busses. The tropical island is a good idea, though, too. Sort of like Las Vegas, but with water.

[Totster]

The tropical island is a good idea, though, too. Sort of like Las Vegas, but with water.

I was trying to be sarcastic....