Bangkok - EAGER to clamp down on rampant illegal gambling all across the nation, the Thailand government has decided to follow fellow South East Asians Singapore's lead in legalising punting on the game.

Back in 1999, SCORE, the nation's legalised football gambling avenue, was set up in support of professional football development in Singapore but more importantly, ensure the money being betted will be channelled back into the game.

Somchainuk Engtrakul, head of the Government Lottery Office, is fully aware of the problems that tag along with gambling and has made firm suggestions that such a business be brought above the ground.

"The board felt it was a must for the government to tackle the rampant problem of football betting, whose value is rising rapidly," said Somchainuk to Reuters.

"We estimate the market size is around 150 billion baht ($3.76 billion) a year. It is necessary for the government to regulate this business and to bring this amount of money into the formal economy."

--AFCnet 2003-11-04

They'll never embrace a philosophy that excludes gambling. That'd indicate that there M I G H T ( only M I G H T ) be a gambling problem hereabouts.

It is necessary for the government to regulate this business and to bring this amount of money into the formal economy."

i.e. tax it!

you can take the money away from the people, but you will never can take the gambling out of the people. asian way of living (chinese style)

I bet that you are right Tomy

On 11/7/2003 at 12:25 AM, tomy said:

you can take the money away from the people, but you will never can take the gambling out of the people. asian way of living (chinese style)http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-4/163253/whistle.gif

Well said

Thailand is one of the few Asian countries without casinos.

Better late than never