Some Thai Media Encourages Young Gamblers, Says Report

[webfact]

Some media encourages young gamblers, says report

By The Nation

During World Cup 2010, football gambling has been rampant among many young people - some becoming illegal bookmakers among their circle, others betting via SMS, despite the law against persons under 20 being involved in lucky draw gambling.

And the prime source for the information on which to base their betting was often local newspapers, prompting some to ask: was the media fuelling the urge of the young to gamble?

At a seminar yesterday entitled "Seeing through football betting: is media presenting news constructively or persuading people to gamble?" in Bangkok's Rattanakosin Hotel, a survey revealed how the world's media covered the World Cup from June 2629.

Out of seven sports newspapers, 47 per cent analysed and criticised each national team and its techniques, boosting young peoples' interest in football, said AntiGambling Network coordinator Thanakorn Khomkris. However, 41 per cent of publications also offered a betting rate - one team's odds over the other - and result predictions, both within the frame of gambling promotion. Another 12 per cent analysed each match result prediction in percentages, also information for those deciding to take a chance on gambling, he said.

Out of six daily newspapers, 81 per cent presented news criticising the game, while 14 per cent predicted the match results and five per cent published the betting rate. In general, Thai newspapers provided an inviting atmosphere for gambling, he said.

The sales promotion media also encouraged people to bet on football match results, but there was no explanation of appropriate ages for people joining in, leaving many kids to learn about gambling unwittingly. He urged these businesses should clearly indicate the age of those eligible for their programmes.

Legal expert from the Centre for the Protection of Children's Rights Foundation, Nattavuth Buaprathum, said that, considering the gambling pattern, children and youths found themselves in three kinds of situation.

First, the direct and indirect punters, some as young as sevenyearsold, were found gambling on Football Euro 2008.

Second, persons involved in gambling businesses, such as the bettaking runners, those commissioning others to bet, and those engaged in drugselling or prostitution to repay their football gambling debts.

Third, the bookies - because the law against juveniles focused on rehabilitating rather than punishing, and many broke the law themselves.

Nathavuth said that the Gambling Act 1935 prohibited persons under 20 from betting in luck drawmannered gambling, except for buying government lottery tickets. And the Interior Ministry's draft law panel had said lucky draw via SMS was a violation of the Act. He urged that the SMS lucky draw issue should be reviewed and clarified by the Council of State.

In the meantime, the Child Protection Act 2003 clearly prohibited anyone, whether consensual or not, from helping children get involved in gambling. The penalty: up to three months in jail and/or a Bt30,000 fine. He urged officials to seriously crackdown on football gambling while families and schools were to keep a close watch on their kids and educate them on the dangers of gambling.

-- The Nation 2010-07-02

[jayjayjayjay]

I sat with the right hand man of the "speaker of the house", an MP himself, for the duration of Slovakia/Holland then Brazil/Chilli match. He and his friends were on the phone every 5 minutes negotiating their bets!!! And these are the law makers!!!!!!!!!!!

[gotlost]

Why they should legalise gambling.