Thailand To Have Referendum On Legalizing Casinos

[george]

Thailand to Have Referendum on Legalizing Casinos

BANGKOK: -- Following last week’s raid on several illegal casinos, Thailand’s government is debating legalizing casinos in the country. The issue has been a subject of interest for several companies, including Australian gaming companies TabCorp, and Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd (PBL). Both casino operators are hopeful about their chances of securing a license to open casinos in Thailand.

Thai government officials say that since there is obviously much demand for casinos, the country needs to seriously consider licensing legal casinos. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that he believes that the government needs to ask the people for a mandate to open casinos.

The government plans to hold a referendum on legalizing casino gambling, although there is some debate as to whether the referendum is better timed on its own or along with the next general elections.

--Authorized Online Casinos 2005-06-28

[dr_Pat_Pong]

And the license is awarded to Shincorp.

[penzman]

Yeah, and I'm sure there's much demand as well for opium and illegal drugs... Why not legalize that as well and bring as much misery to this country as you can while you're at it?

Sure, a casino will create jobs and make some winners happy, for a while, but the misery and social problems caused by gambling is not something Thailand needs these days, especially with the unstable economy.

He's promised to eradicate poverty twice by now and this is part of his plan?

[snoophound]

Agreed

Better they keep casinos out,although all the money is on Ambassador city in Pattaya becoming the first casino....right now its a 5000 room white elephant ,losing its connected shareholders millions of baht.

Thais will gamble every last satang in misguided hope that their luck will change or they had a dream they won.

If the govt cared about poverty and the people they will keep the casinos in cambodia,at least thats a small barrier.

Yeah, and I'm sure there's much demand as well for opium and illegal drugs... Why not legalize that as well and bring as much misery to this country as you can while you're at it?

Sure, a casino will create jobs and make some winners happy, for a while, but the misery and social problems caused by gambling is not something Thailand needs these days, especially with the unstable economy.

He's promised to eradicate poverty twice by now and this is part of his plan?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Jai Dee]

Thai government officials say that since there is obviously much demand for casinos, the country needs to seriously consider licensing legal casinos. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that he believes that the government needs to ask the people for a mandate to open casinos.

What a slick way to legalize Toxin's master plan, without appearing to be directly involved...

I can hear it now... "The people voted for it, the people voted for it... I was just the PM that carried out their wishes"

My money is on The Ambassador as well snoophound... it's common knowledge around here that Toxin is already a major shareholder.

Edited June 29, 2005 by Jai Dee

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Toxin's Law places self first, second, and third. Sadly, after that, there's nothin' left

[kreon]

and he's buddy buddies with kerry packer

my bet is that pbl(crown casino) will run the casino in thailand

[terdsak_12]

Not a bad idea. Why not a vote for later opening hours???

[Jai Dee]

Not a bad idea. Why not a vote for later opening hours???

You'll probably find that Thailand first casino will be open 24/7... just like the Crown casino in Melbourne.

Laws will be bent or molded to suit Toxin's needs... and he and his extended family will reap the rewards...

[stumonster]

If the govt cared about poverty and the people they will keep the casinos in cambodia,at least thats a small barrier.

which thai's have interests in the poi pet casinos?

A comment I heard this week was the closing down of the illegal casinos in bangkok will send all the punters out to poi pet . ( don't try a visa run on fri/sat/sun ) , so you wonder exacty who was behind the raids....

[tuky]

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that he believes that the government needs to ask the people for a mandate to open casinos.

of the Thai folk I know I cannot think of one who would vote against a casino, they are all either not interested, or gambling mad.

What chance does a referendum have a failing?

[Heng]

I for one would vote yes.

[mnoorsapl]

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that he believes that the government needs to ask the people for a mandate to open casinos.

of the Thai folk I know I cannot think of one who would vote against a casino, they are all either not interested, or gambling mad.

What chance does a referendum have a failing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me mother-in-law and nephews were one of those gambling mad people, many a times have told them to stop but goes on deaf ears. To them gambling is the only way to get fast $$$.

[maerim]

My bit on this subject.

I had the misfortune to be married to Thai woman with a gambling problem it was also my problem as she was losing money faster than I could make it.

I don't know any Thai's who just like a "flutter" they are addicted to gambling either here or in the UK where unfortunately it is legal.

I know a Thai man in the UK who when he finishes work in the restaurant he gambles online, over the years I have sorted his finances out a few times because he was in arrears with his mortgage etc through his inability to stop betting.

When I was in the UK last year he showed me a court order for the reposession of his house as was in arrears again, they charged him about £1,500 court costs which was added to his bill there was no way he could pay these arrears off so a friend and I offered to buy his house from him cash, after he paid all his bills and arrears he would have had about £50,000 in his hand.

The house was falling to bits but it is in a decent area, he asked where he would live? I told him did he think the baliffs would be sympathetic when they were evicting him?

To cut a long story short he decided against our offer so I came back here and I have been told he has now been evicted from the property all for a cheap gambling thrill, beats me.

[Patong Bob]

See "The Australian"on 19th May......contracts have already been signed for casinos in Phuket and Khao Lak (obviously that was before 26/12) and yes, the winner is Shincorp.

[Jai Dee]

See "The Australian"on 19th May......contracts have already been signed for casinos in Phuket and Khao Lak (obviously that was before 26/12) and yes, the winner is Shincorp.

Have you got a web reference link to this little beauty?

[dr_Pat_Pong]

SURPRISE ... SURPRISE <_

[Pattaya_Fox]

More Chips to add to Mr T`s cooking pot of 2.4 billion baht net profit

[Rinrada]

Recon this could be a big NO vote.........

[womble]

See "The Australian"on 19th May......contracts have already been signed for casinos in Phuket and Khao Lak (obviously that was before 26/12) and yes, the winner is Shincorp.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you got a web reference link to this little beauty?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If it really has been awarded to Shin Corp, then it is a total outrage, if it is to be legalised, it should be state run and all profit should go directly into Government coffers, by that I mean so it can be used for the people's benefit, not the benfit of those who hold the power.

Do you have a link to Substantiate this?

[kreon]

See "The Australian"on 19th May......contracts have already been signed for casinos in Phuket and Khao Lak (obviously that was before 26/12) and yes, the winner is Shincorp.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

sometimes its handy to get your facts right, because it always will bite you up the @arse

to got a long story short, that article as about getting business out the asian casino industry

Oriental gamble looks sure-fire bet

Florence Chong

May 19, 2005

He added that in Thailand, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was likely to move ahead with integrated resorts at Khao Lak, near Phuket.

my asian casino fund -12-month is +78%- and rising

[chownah]

There are alot of nay sayers out there in regards to whether the Thai people should vote on whether they want to legalize casino gambling in Thailand. I'm not talking about the corruption which will no doubt be part of the process if it goes forward. What I want to talk about is...don't you think it is great that a government will actually go to the people and have them vote to decide on an important issue? I think its great. The US gov't is loathe to let the people decide most things. The lawmakers have talked alot about doing things that will make it more difficult for decisions to be made by the people and I think it is positively great that the democratic process would be use here in Thailand to decide this issue. Of course I'll keep tuned to see how fairly the election is run!!!!!

[britmaveric]

Hmmm bad idea - think all Thai(s) need is to blow their dosh on gambling enterprises.

[kreon]

See "The Australian"on 19th May......contracts have already been signed for casinos in Phuket and Khao Lak (obviously that was before 26/12) and yes, the winner is Shincorp.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Have you got a web reference link to this little beauty?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

here it is

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E25658,00.htm

[Thomas_Merton]

There is a thread "Should Thailand Have a Casino, what do you think?":

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=32158&hl=

[thaibebop]

Yeah, and I'm sure there's much demand as well for opium and illegal drugs... Why not legalize that as well and bring as much misery to this country as you can while you're at it?

Sure, a casino will create jobs and make some winners happy, for a while, but the misery and social problems caused by gambling is not something Thailand needs these days, especially with the unstable economy.

He's promised to eradicate poverty twice by now and this is part of his plan?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wouldn't taxing the casinos bring in much needed money? What about tourist gambling, they would bring in money too.

[Jai Dee]

See "The Australian"on 19th May......contracts have already been signed for casinos in Phuket and Khao Lak (obviously that was before 26/12) and yes, the winner is Shincorp.

Have you got a web reference link to this little beauty?

here it is

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/commo...55E25658,00.htm

Thanks kreon.

It's good to validate, or in this case invalidate the rumour.

One speculative sentence in that article does not a casino make.

Anyway, the idea of a referendum is certainly a good move for Toxin, as he can be see by one and all for the truly democratic leader that he is, and not the dictator he is purported to be.

But let's not limit the referendum to the gambling issue... let's chuck in another couple to really find out what the people want... liquor sales times... energy conservation measures... fuel prices... entertainment area closing times................ <yawn>... I can only be facetious for so long...

[kreon]

Yeah, and I'm sure there's much demand as well for opium and illegal drugs... Why not legalize that as well and bring as much misery to this country as you can while you're at it?

Sure, a casino will create jobs and make some winners happy, for a while, but the misery and social problems caused by gambling is not something Thailand needs these days, especially with the unstable economy.

He's promised to eradicate poverty twice by now and this is part of his plan?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wouldn't taxing the casinos bring in much needed money? What about tourist gambling, they would bring in money too.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

absolutely, macau has the fasted growing economy in the world, growing at 30% per annum, that's why they all want a piece of that action