Thailand To Legalize Gambling

[gunnerterry]

Gambling is already rife in thailand, mafia gangs target students to take their bets, if they lose they give them credit until they are up to their neck in debt, they then terrorise them with guns if they do not pay, many students commit suicide rather than approach their families to help out . By having legalised gambling 'shops' which do not give credit students will only be able to bet what they can afford , these gangs will go out of business (hopefully) or need to find another profitable source of income! Legalised gambling a thumbs up from me, about time.

[Tony Clifton]

I had no idea that opening casinos was one of the development stages of a 3rd world country.

Proof that this government is nothing bit a mafia syndicate.

Why not legalize heroin and opium while they're at it?

Bunch of hypocrites.

[johniescfc]

Not 100% certain this is the way forward and quite frankly i dont realy care,because i never ever give my money away to gambling casinos.However,i do believe the gambling dens should be on the outskirts of pattaya,with buses running to the dens. This will eliminate more traffic problems and use up some waste land.

[farang prince]

A neighbor's nephew lost more than a 100 k through illegal gambling. Will legalizing gambling prevent this type of thing from happening again? I doubt it. But legalizing gambling could remove graft and corruption.

According to the Prime Minister speaking on the evening news, gambling in casino,s would be banned for Thai nationals as it is in Cambodia for Cambodians.

Okay, I'll bite....how is legalized gambling going to do away from illegal gambling dens (Chalerm's latest quote) which cater to Thais not tourists, when the Prime Minister now says gambling Thais would be banned from gambling in legal casinos? This is another case of Thai politicians talking out of both sides of their mouth. If you folks believe that the Thai politicians are going to be doing this for the "good" of Thailand, then I have a lovely bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.

[warmwater7]

it seems like thaksin is making himself a nice bed.well done. VIVA DEMOCRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the lotto proceeds going to "the schools" , and potentially billions

in under the table money to gerase the

already well lubed wheels in existance , genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lest see how he navigates the dollar/oil/and luming china bubble( the always burst, dont they?)

LOS GROWING PAINS.java script:add_smilie(%22:wai:%22,%22smid_54%22)

[gaza]

No more MIB raiding baht gambling dens???

Guess Mr T will be building a few casino(s) now.

Edited March 4, 2008 by gaza

[Heng]

and there is such a nice block of land available to build an entertainment complex next to RCA .

hmm, and there will be a train line straight from the airport!!!

I wonder who will get the concession to run the casino???

Anyway, I bet Heng is already busy setting up his pawn shops around the site......

You're only allowed one shop per license, and they aren't issuing any more. If they did you'd already see EZ Heng shops all over the place.

[Heng]

In Thai schools you CANNOT even broach the subject of statistics using these very common and practical methods.

Why not? I am interested in why you say this. Is numerology that ingrained in this society? I find it hard to believe that stastics are not taught in universities here.

It IS taught in universities. But like a lot of subjects offered in school worldwide, an awful lot of people just 'learn' it to pass exams and don't apply it to anything. Those who do 'get it' don't get credit for not partaking in gambling or become the unscrupulous folks who understand odds very well and run the nation's sportsbooks, underground lotteries, etc.

[patsfangr]

Gambling is already rife in thailand, mafia gangs target students to take their bets, if they lose they give them credit until they are up to their neck in debt, they then terrorise them with guns if they do not pay, many students commit suicide rather than approach their families to help out . By having legalised gambling 'shops' which do not give credit students will only be able to bet what they can afford , these gangs will go out of business (hopefully) or need to find another profitable source of income! Legalised gambling a thumbs up from me, about time.

I don't understand why so many people seem to think that opening legal casinos will make the illegal shops suddenly disappear.

According to the latest from the PM, the casinos would be closed to Thai nationals. If so, then there would be no decrease at all in the "demand" for gambling venues for Thais. No change in the demand, means no change in the supply.

TIT. The casinos, if opened, will be money makers for the rich Thais, and many foreign interests. Some revenue will definitely find its' way, with MUCH fanfare and publicity, to worthwhile projects throughout the country. That is good. And the Thai people will be convinced, through the controlled media, that the casino owners are dedicated solely to the betterment of life for all Thais. But, of course, most of the revenue, through one ruse or another, will find it's way into the pockets of the rich and powerful. I can only hope that the portion that does trickle down to the poor makes a reasonably noticeable change.

[sawadeeken]

Hi

I just wanna play a game of Poker

Im doing quite well with my poker online and make a small profit of about

$200 every week so a casino in Thailand would be great for us loving the game .

I cant wait....

$200 a week ?????? On line betting ??????...................... I drove a Greyhound bus for years, primarily to and from Las Vegas, I have carried many thousands of people into and out of Las Vegas -- I would always get on the microphone and ask as we were leaving there: "DO WE HAVE ANY WINNERS ON BOARD TODAY?", and guess what the reply was consistently ----- LAUGHTER ...........................

One time (ONE TIME ONLY) in all the years I had a CASINO SECURITY GUARD approach me half hour before departure and tip me $20 to let his customer (who appearently had won something BIG ????) get on early and get a front seat................ WITH ALL MY EXPERIENCE AROUND "GAMBLERS" I KNOW ALOT ABOUT "LOSERS", BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT GAMBLING "WINNERS"

[Plus]

By having legalised gambling 'shops' which do not give credit students will only be able to bet what they can afford , these gangs will go out of business (hopefully) or need to find another profitable source of income!

Standing outside legal gambling shops waiting for people who were refused credit inside sounds like a solid business to me.

[onethailand]

I don't understand why so many people seem to think that opening legal casinos will make the illegal shops suddenly disappear.

According to the latest from the PM, the casinos would be closed to Thai nationals. If so, then there would be no decrease at all in the "demand" for gambling venues for Thais. No change in the demand, means no change in the supply.

Exactly. And there was also talk yesterday that there would be a 100K entrance fee - which would have essentially the same effect, no change in demand for underground gambling. I'm not fully aware of the details here so have to listen to radio/tv for more information as it has not yet been published in English-language media.

Mind you, the person who allegedly proposed the 100K entrance fee could be said to be protecting his own interests...

There's a long way to go before any of this can possibly happen - right now all I hear is the same BS that's been bandied about for years - big mouths pretending they know how to prevent an increase in gambling addiction.

SawasdeeKen - poker isn't quite the same thing as casino. In online poker there is good money to be made if you have patience.

And I've probably been on your bus once or twice

[sriracha john]

A few new specifics... such as a 100,000 Baht casino-membership fee to gamble.... with every 10th hole punch on it you're eligible for a 50% discount voucher good on the future purchase of a Thai Elite Card. It also includes a 30% discount on AIS phone service, a hefty "half-off" on any Thai AirAsia flight, a 20% discount for tuition and books at Shinawatra University in any BS degree program, a complimentary DVD showcasing the highlights of iTV past television programming, in addition to a lower-than-market-value pre-approved loan through Capital OK Ltd. (good only for the purchase of mobile phones)....

PM vows to legalise casinos in Thailand

BANGKOK – Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej pledged on Tuesday that casinos for Thailand would be legalised during his four-year term, saying the plan will be initiated in the country's main tourist provinces.

Returning from a two-day official trip to Cambodia, Samak said that there were a number of casinos in neibouring countries. Likewise, there should be legal casinos in Thailand. He vowed to push for casino legalisation during his tenure.

"Should I complete my four-year term, I believe casinos will be legalised for sure," the premier said.

Casinos should be initially set up in key tourist provinces such as Pattaya, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai, and the Songkhla commercial district of Hat Yai, he said.

The prime minister dismissed criticism the plan was to liberalise casinos; rather it was actually legalise them.

Targeted customers would be tourists with passports and Thais aged over 20, and annual membership fees would be as high as 100,000 baht. Youngsters would not be allowed to enter the legalised casinos.

"The idea is not misleading young people to gamble because they won't be allowed to enter the places," he said.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva warned that the government should consider several factors besides the advantage that legalised casinos could stop money outflow to other countries.

The government should also think about possible crime and money laundering implications which can emerge with the setting up of such gambling and gaming establishments, Mr. Abhisit said.

The government should take care that the casinos do not encourage people to become involved in gambling, he added.

- TNA

[onethailand]

Thanks for that, John

Again, they've missed out something - the key "tourist" province is Bangkok. If their intent is primarily to target visitors to Thailand, Bangkok is the logical place to set up. And if Khon Kaen is a major tourist province...

The issue is not young people, how silly. Of course they have to set a minimum age barrier. Membership fee is an interesting idea if it's annual, but what about tourists? Will they have to pay membership fees as well?

As an aside - Shinawatra U should offer free tuition for students wishing to study the legal and social implications of gambling in Thai society

[steveromagnino]

$200 a week ?????? On line betting ??????...................... I drove a Greyhound bus for years, primarily to and from Las Vegas, I have carried many thousands of people into and out of Las Vegas -- I would always get on the microphone and ask as we were leaving there: "DO WE HAVE ANY WINNERS ON BOARD TODAY?", and guess what the reply was consistently ----- LAUGHTER ...........................

One time (ONE TIME ONLY) in all the years I had a CASINO SECURITY GUARD approach me half hour before departure and tip me $20 to let his customer (who appearently had won something BIG ????) get on early and get a front seat................ WITH ALL MY EXPERIENCE AROUND "GAMBLERS" I KNOW ALOT ABOUT "LOSERS", BUT I REALLY DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT GAMBLING "WINNERS"

People who ride greyhound buses are principally playing slots etc.

There are a few beatable games in a casino:

- certain configurations of jackpot based progressive poker machines which in general have a 10:6 payout configuration for Full house/flush and when the jackpot gets beyond a certain level; as the odds are calculatable how many hands have to be played to receive the jackpot, a team can take over all seats of the group, and play out until they win the jackpot

- blackjack; so long as the game is at worst double down 10,11 single deck dealing to about 2/3 of the deck (I can go into the exact number of hands per play configuration if you want) and you can lay down a spread of about 8:1 (8 times your smallest bet when the deck is ace positive with a high number of tens remaining) the game is beatable, with an edge to the counter of about 1%; personally I prefer counting through multiple decks; 4 or 6 with at least 75% penetration and double down anything multiple splits dealer stands soft 17 but that is because I worked as a dealer and used to be able to countdown 2 tables simultaneously in a heads up game. By using a team concept (and there is plenty of literature to explain this, but basically it means playing 2 or more people, with the low person betting the minimum, and the high person being called in when the deck is ace rich/ten rich to play a multiple of 100 times the minimum, it maximises revenues during the times when the cards remaining are favourable to the player based on the fact that in blackjack , the house advantage is in playing last while the player advantage is based on earning 50% more when receiving blackjacks, and the dealer having to hit until 17

- shuffle tracking in blackjack exploiting incomplete dealing, a subject rather difficult to explain to someone who isn't familiar with the different types of deals in casinos

- certain variations of poker including texas hold em, omaha and a variety of other games, where the house makes a 'rake' or commission on hands played rather than players playing against the house directly. Thus the good player wins against the bad players, and the house always makes the rake

None of the above are gambling as such; they are manipulation of probabilitities. The casino doesn't like team play in the first, will ban players they suspect of engaging in any card counting or shuffle tracking in blackjack and does't care at all about poker.

On line poker, the rake is smaller so there is indeed every chance that people can make a living playing poker online. YOu win at the expense of people who aren't as good.

And how to get good at online poker? Instant understanding of probabilities and then just play lots and lots of hands while being able to read betting strategy of the other players.

Check out books by guys like Doyle Brunson and in black jack, Kenny Uston or Stanford Wong.

Casinos can be beaten. But not by gambling. Only by statistics. Easiest statistics to win with are owning the casino ;-)

[jcsmith]

In my opinion it would be good for the country if they built some casinos in the touristed beach communities, etc. Tourism is down. Casinos would create jobs and would suck money from tourists. Not to mention, gambling is everywhere in this country. It's absolutely ridiculous that people playing a friendly game of poker in their own homes can get raided and arrested by police. I doubt it would get rid of people gambling in their homes, but the idea that they can be arrested for doing so is silly.

[Tony Clifton]

Casinos? With the present corrupt to the bone police force and government Thailand has to offer?

[Dissolution]

What's next? Legalizing brothels and prostitution so as to create more jobs and reduce occurrence of rape?

Oh wait...!

SNAP!

[torrenova]

About 3 or 4 years ago, Tony of Tony's Disco in Pattaya fame (infamy ?) was trying to flog off his disco with the slogan of "where else can you buy a beer for 50 cents and sell it for $5". He wanted around $4.5m if my memory serves me correct.

The advert hosted by a prominent business transfer service stated that he wanted to raise cash to buy a resort as he believed that Thailand would legalise gambling and he wanted to position himslef for that.

I did save a copy somewhere but can't seem to find it.

[Heng]

Membership for locals sounds good, with free access for everyone else, although I think some measure should be taken to protect relatively poor foreign 'locals' (English teachers and Filipino singers for example).

[singa-traz]

What's next? Legalizing brothels and prostitution so as to create more jobs and reduce occurrence of rape?

Oh wait...!

SNAP!

Let's look around the region ... Singapore:

- Prostitution legalised

- opening their first casino

Are they also doing something wrong?

[onethailand]

People who ride greyhound buses are principally playing slots etc.

Strangely enough - when I did the Greyhound tours, I only played blackjack. But otherwise I'd agree that almost any one who takes buses is heading for machines.

There are a few beatable games in a casino:

- certain configurations of jackpot based progressive poker machines which in general have a 10:6 payout configuration for Full house/flush and when the jackpot gets beyond a certain level; as the odds are calculatable how many hands have to be played to receive the jackpot, a team can take over all seats of the group, and play out until they win the jackpot

9/6 Jacks or Better. And yes, there are progressive video poker teams in Vegas, I've seen them a number of times myself. But they don't exist in any Asian casino that I know of because the VP here sucks.

blackjack

Counting is good if you can do it. Basic strategy is plenty fine to reduce the edge for the average player though. Shuffle tracking is almost irrelevant now since all places use machines for shuffling.

With poker, a good player with good strategy and a ton of patience will usually make money. This is true both online and offline, but online you will see many more suckers and kamikazes so typically it's much easier to make money. You don't even need Brunson to start making money - save that for if you decide to make online poker a full-time living, like thousands of players already do.

[slapout]

Not sure that a chicken ranch investment would go over real well here, unless the BIB and numerous other leech types were involved. Then the freebies would take the best out of commision, on a regular basis. Not sure too many potential customers will want to be around the BIB while they are packing their weapons, as is common here. I really believe casino's would be money laundering house if they do become legal here. The people who have or are pushing for casinos do not appear to be of the highest moral fiber. Maybe the some groups who are above material desires could train and furnish dealers.

[soundman]

Irrespective of the pros & cons of legalising gambling on Thai soceity - the main aim for the "men in charge", through opening casinos, is to provide them with another huge "cashcow" to finance their political endeavours and longevity.

despite this...

For the record I think that having a casino or two in strategic tourist locations would contribute to enhancing Thailand's image as a "full package" tourist destination and be beneficial to an otherwise down market and flagging tourist industry.

Soundman.

[Tony Clifton]

Not sure that a chicken ranch investment would go over real well here, unless the BIB and numerous other leech types were involved. Then the freebies would take the best out of commision, on a regular basis. Not sure too many potential customers will want to be around the BIB while they are packing their weapons, as is common here. I really believe casino's would be money laundering house if they do become legal here. The people who have or are pushing for casinos do not appear to be of the highest moral fiber. Maybe the some groups who are above material desires could train and furnish dealers.

[sangfroid]

and there is such a nice block of land available to build an entertainment complex next to RCA .

The Thaksins bought a nice block of land off Ratchada Rd near the South Korean embassy. That would be a good site, close to the Thailand Cultural Centre too

[oldgit]

Gambling is already rife in thailand, mafia gangs target students to take their bets, if they lose they give them credit until they are up to their neck in debt, they then terrorise them with guns if they do not pay, many students commit suicide rather than approach their families to help out . By having legalised gambling 'shops' which do not give credit students will only be able to bet what they can afford , these gangs will go out of business (hopefully) or need to find another profitable source of income! Legalised gambling a thumbs up from me, about time.

I don't understand why so many people seem to think that opening legal casinos will make the illegal shops suddenly disappear.

According to the latest from the PM, the casinos would be closed to Thai nationals. If so, then there would be no decrease at all in the "demand" for gambling venues for Thais. No change in the demand, means no change in the supply.

TIT. The casinos, if opened, will be money makers for the rich Thais, and many foreign interests. Some revenue will definitely find its' way, with MUCH fanfare and publicity, to worthwhile projects throughout the country. That is good. And the Thai people will be convinced, through the controlled media, that the casino owners are dedicated solely to the betterment of life for all Thais. But, of course, most of the revenue, through one ruse or another, will find it's way into the pockets of the rich and powerful. I can only hope that the portion that does trickle down to the poor makes a reasonably noticeable change.

Its correct to state that Samaks idea to bar Thai nationals from entering casinos,once gambling is legalised will not stop them gambling 'underground' but there is a way to overcome this.Introduce the good,old fashioned betting shop into the system and throughout the country.After all,there's more to gambling than slots,roulette and playing cards.There's horse racing,greyhound racing and football betting for starters.Thailand is in the same position now as the U.K. was in the 1960's.Gambling was legalised but because the government of the day was too naive and foolish to fully appreciate what an advantage this industry would be to the economy,they threw it into the open arms of private enterprise and,consequently,the very same people that were running the illegal operation.With that,the money generated dissappeared into the pockets of the unscrupulous.The government must take Australias lead and introduce state or province controlled run betting shops where the money would be accountable.The shops would provide an alternative form of entertainment to the whiskey circles,especially in the rural sector.New job opportunities will arise such as betting office managers and counter clerks.Horse racing and greyhound racing could be beamed live from Australia,Hong Kong and Japan.I think people that are worried about the mass gambling addiction to Mr.Ordinary are doing him a disservice because,if there's one thing the average Thai covets above all,its what's in his pocket.A knock on effect could be an expansion of the horse racing industry here with tracks and training establishments appearing in the rural areas and again,providing more employment to these communities.You will get some corruption,of course,there always is where vast sums of money are concerned,but at least the money generated will stay within local government control and not the thugs and bandits.An independant 'watchdog' could oversee the whole shooting match.

[Plus]

Thais are no better than any other nationality in managing their gambling debts. They have enough debts already as it is.

Today's there's a story of a father who commited suicide because he couldn't collect the money from people who owe him. That's a new one.

[sriracha john]

Bangkok Post EDITORIAL

If casinos win, we all lose

It is not unheard of for new governments to shoot themselves in the foot while getting organised and settling in for the long term. But when that same administration shoots itself in the foot several times during its first month in office, it is a cause for concern. It is also an indication that controversy and the fledgling Samak government are made for each other. Misrepresenting the tragic events of Oct 6, 1976, instituting Stalin-like purges of the senior bureaucracy and reinstating largely-discredited policies from the past have kept political analysts on their toes. Now comes a proposal to really open a Pandora's box. It was floated as a trial balloon touting the legalising of casinos. Predictably, crusading heavyweights such as Chamlong Srimuang and his supporters have already lined up to do battle, arguing that any perceived benefits would be greatly outweighed by the negative social consequences and that the government should not support such a vice-ridden business on moral, religious and ethical grounds. The state of play today is that government ministers have promised exhaustive reviews and public hearings before any bills are tabled, but opposition remains strong. Tourism venues being considered as hosts for big-money, self-supporting casinos are Pattaya, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Chiang Mai and Hat Yai, although the use of the word "tourism" is a misnomer because fortune-hunting gamblers are not really tourists. A home-grown gambling industry would serve no practical or positive purpose and merely be a corrupting influence. The reason governments, politicians and businessmen are so interested in casinos is the astronomical profits to be derived. Total gambling turnover worldwide is now estimated at more than $400 billion a year. But it is not a panacea for economic ills and balancing budgets. Licensing gambling would bring terrible problems in its wake. We already have enough vices and addictions to worry about. Those who defend this social evil say its negative aspects can be controlled, but history tells us otherwise.

We have enough problems to cope with already. Littering the country with "untouchable" gambling joints would only make them worse.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/08Mar2008_news15.php

[Roby]

What police do against "black litery sellers" nothing, they know but turn head.