Factors Combine To Encourage Illegal Casinos: Thai Editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
Factors combine to encourage illegal casinos
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Underpaid police officers and widespread addiction to gambling mean this issue is unlikely to disappear any time soon; the only solution is amendments to the laws

Several senior police officers have recently been transferred to inactive posts as punishment following raids on gambling dens in Bangkok's Bang Na and Klong Tan areas by police from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD).

Among those punished are the commander of the Metropolitan Police's Division 5 and the superintendents of the Bang Na and Klong Tan police stations.

This is not the first time senior police officers have been transferred in relation to high-profile gambling arrests in their areas of jurisdiction. And, if past experience is any indicator, it certainly will not be the last.

National police chief General Adul Sangsingkaew, who approved the transfer orders, said there would be more such raids by the CSD, because he'd learned that many city police stations are turning a blind eye to illegal gambling dens in their areas. He also threatened to punish police commanders in areas where raids on illegal casinos take place.

Adul's remarks imply that the police are aware of gambling dens in their areas of jurisdiction, but fail to make arrests.

Arrests actually are made from time to time, but the targets are often the gamblers themselves, not the owners or operators. They also tend to be smaller gambling dens. Larger gaming houses of casino size are often spared, although gamblers and local residents - including taxi-drivers - know exactly where they are located.

Many people blame bribe-taking by corrupt law enforcers for the boom in illegal gambling dens in Thailand. According to a study conducted two years ago by Associate Professor Sangsit Piriyarangsan, an expert in underworld business, Bangkok alone has an estimated 170 such gambling dens, 10 of them large, which generate annual revenue between Bt180 billion and Bt200 billion. He found that between 5 and 20 per cent of that revenue, or Bt2 billion to Bt8 billion, was paid as bribes to corrupt police officers. Annual revenue from gambling dens throughout the country is estimated at Bt640 billion to Bt820 billion.

MP Chuwit Kamolvisit, who has famously said he constantly had to pay off corrupt policemen when he ran massage parlours, last year claimed that an illegal Bangkok casino gave police Bt2 million a day to let it keep operating.

A subsequent public-opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration found almost 80 per cent of respondents believing Chuwit's claim that police routinely accept bribes from gambling houses.

The problem of illegal gambling dens will continue as long as there are corrupt law enforcers, high returns from the business and gamblers to provide the custom. In other words - with factors such as the poor salaries of police officers and a national penchant for gambling - it will be difficult, if not impossible, to stamp out this problem in Thailand.

Professor Sangsit suggests as a long-term solution a reform of the police force to minimise corruption, as well as the legalisation of casinos. However, he admits that, even if legal casinos were allowed, there would still be illegal gambling establishments.

In addition to reforming the police force, amending the anti-gambling law to impose harsher penalties on operators of illegal dens might be another way to ease the problem. For example, those involved in the business could be discouraged if the law required seizure of their earnings. On the gamblers' part, if their habit is regarded as an addiction, they should be compelled to undergo rehabilitation treatment after being arrested.


-- The Nation 2013-03-29

[hgma]

underworld practices.

you pay i deliver instead of we get paid to serve and protect.

scary and unsustainable.

[OzMick]

Combine a few factors to arrest the problem. Pass laws to make asset seizure from criminal activity mandatory and immediate, with percentages of assets seized allocated to police involved and to (guaranteed anonymous) whistle-blowers. Then have police make annual asset/income disclosure with random checking (including generals) of wealth increase and tax records. False declaration considered criminal activity subject to asset seizure.

I'm sure DPM Chalerm would be in favour of this proposal to STOP CORRUPTION.

[endure]

Combine a few factors to arrest the problem. Pass laws to make asset seizure from criminal activity mandatory and immediate, with percentages of assets seized allocated to police involved

[Ricardo]

A subsequent public-opinion survey by the National Institute of Development Administration found almost 80% of respondents believing Chuwit's claim that police routinely accept bribes from gambling houses.

Only "almost 80%", and not "100%", that really IS 'Amazing Thailand' !

[retell]

i still do not understand why they transfer the bad ones to an inactive post , so they have even more time on their hands to set up the crap table

[chainarong]

Gambling is a big time thing for Thai's, the problem being ,most can't afford it, next thing, bullets etc are flying around, the corruption, extortion, anti social problems, out- way the case for a casino, it's doubt full that low wages are responsible, ( no will power) but it wouldn't help.

[DiamondKing]

This runs extremely deep from the bottom rung all the way up to the very top and every level is getting paid along the way, this not only includes casino and dens, it also includes cock fighting events, Bull fighting, gambling when there is a funeral every aspect is condoned and accepted as long as the payments are made to the right people.

In busts like this seems they either pissed someone off or did not pay the right people because when a bust like that happens it affects many many people.

[OzMick]

Combine a few factors to arrest the problem. Pass laws to make asset seizure from criminal activity mandatory and immediate, with percentages of assets seized allocated to police involved

while that may sound unusual to a westerner, i have been reliably informed that BIB (legally) receive a percentage of traffic fines/tickets they write. When a bribe is offered/requested, all that is happening is the offender is outbidding the government; from the BIB POV, cutting out the middle man.

If the legal return offered is higher than the gambler's bribe without the posible repercussions, perhaps we can see them doing their job.

[sprq]

Quite obviously, legalisation solves most of the problem. Oh dear, have I said something too intelligent?

[klauskunkel]

MP Chuwit Kamolvisit, who has famously said he constantly had to pay off corrupt policemen when he ran massage parlours, last year claimed that an illegal Bangkok casino gave police Bt2 million a day to let it keep operating.

2 million baht/day from one casino? Isn't that a bit over the top, or am I being naive?

[belg]

legalize it, tax it ... at least the BIB with not controlling it

looooooool who am i kidding, off course the BIB will be in charge

little tip for the governement: put every caught corrupt BIB to work in the south of thailand .... maybe the problem will slowly go away (after some categorie of people take care of them)

in my books : 5% of 180 billion is 9 billion ... not 2 ... so what happend to the 7 other ?

Edited March 29, 2013 by belg

[seajae]

Any other country would have those caught being dismissed from the force and loosing their pension, maybe if they enforced that in Thailand it would stop this very quickly. Trouble is the thaksin sees it as every policemans right to make a lot of money out of their position after all he did as do those that are close to him. Until they decide to make it illegal to actually be able to recieve presents from others for any reason the police will not change.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The best comparison I can think of is -- it's kind of like putting the pimps in charge of stopping prostitution.

[oops]

And to think that if we added gambling to area's like Pattaya and Phuket. we could use that money for better education and better educated law enforcement.

The purposed Ambassador constructed for a casino many years ago and more recently at the end of 2011 the news channels said that they got the casino approved

when in all actually it may have already been approved behind closed doors as we see the area being heavily developed

with a shopping center by Nikki and his investors,the two water theme parks and of course the Venice theme park and housing development by the owners of Baan Ampur Home mart, up near the

newly reconstructed Vineyards with and amphitheater just behind the Vineyards. I would strong suggest that Somebody knows something

[oops]

The best comparison I can think of is -- it's kind of like putting the pimps in charge of stopping prostitution.

Brilliant

[Locationthailand]

I wish someone would define - "inactive post"? So what - they cannot be fired? So move them sideways away from actually working or sitting at a desk? Why not simply charge them and throw them in with the rest of the crims in a cell. They'd take care of them then, and no pension etc to pay.

[dcsw53]

Wake up ans smell the coffee.

History proves prohibition and banning gambling NEVER works. Leglise gambling like they did in Singapore. Sell casino franchises to the big international ( sorry meant to say Chinese and Russian ) LEGITIMATE operators, on condition they :-

1. Build classy, strictly managed casino/hotels

2. Obey new laws on transparency of operation, genuinely independent non exec directors on board ( OK I can dream a little )

3. Pay huge amounts of tax to the government, that does not disappear on route

4. Appoint an honest ( maybe foreign ) policing system to run it

People then will desert the back street dives out of business, it make money for the government, and remove some/most of the bent cops who will need to find new income stream/profession.

Might even bring a few "high end tourists" who would have otherwise gone to Macao, Hainan or Singapore. Isn't that what TAT wants ?

[Halion]

Another example of the inacurate statements put out by those in power. "Many police officers turn a blind eye to illegal gambling". On many occasions it is in fact the police that are behind this industry and it is viewed as a most lucrative activity.

Perhaps if such officers are found to be involved in the perpretration of such activities then they should be prosecuted and dishonourably discharged.... not just removed to an inactive post Do they everstop to think how simply ludicrous they are.

[SOTIRIOS]

...this is nonsense....the den owners get off scott-free......the police officers are transferred....

...if the police officers get paid....they are accomplices....

....one would think....1) they should be forced to divulge the names of the den owners....2)...they should lose their jobs....

....otherwise...this is just a charade ....not law enforcement.....not justice......and it will go on...and on.and on.....

[Card]

They should include cock fighting pits as well. I know a big one up north opposite my holiday home and one near my condo in BKK. Bloody big red cocks everywhere - it's a nightmare at dawn but heaven for gays!

Edited March 29, 2013 by Card

[arthurboy]

Many people blame bribe-taking by corrupt law enforcers for the boom in illegal gambling dens in Thailand. According to a study conducted two years ago by Associate Professor Sangsit Piriyarangsan, an expert in underworld business, Bangkok alone has an estimated 170 such gambling dens, 10 of them large, which generate annual revenue between Bt180 billion and Bt200 billion. He found that between 5 and 20 per cent of that revenue, or Bt2 billion to Bt8 billion, was paid as bribes to corrupt police officers. Annual revenue from gambling dens throughout the country is estimated at Bt640 billion to Bt820 billion.

And there you have it. Big money and big backers are sure as hell not going to pack this in any time soon.

The article opens with yet another pathetic - police are low paid - excuse. Free housing, family healthcare, cheap loans, pension schemes and other benefits sure help make up for that.

[khaowong1]

And to think that if we added gambling to area's like Pattaya and Phuket. we could use that money for better education and better educated law enforcement.

The purposed Ambassador constructed for a casino many years ago and more recently at the end of 2011 the news channels said that they got the casino approved

when in all actually it may have already been approved behind closed doors as we see the area being heavily developed

with a shopping center by Nikki and his investors,the two water theme parks and of course the Venice theme park and housing development by the owners of Baan Ampur Home mart, up near the

newly reconstructed Vineyards with and amphitheater just behind the Vineyards. I would strong suggest that Somebody knows something

I agree with you in part. A substantial part of the profits should go to education. But we all that live here know, that the majority of the profits would be going into someones pockets and very little if any left over for education.

Edited March 30, 2013 by khaowong1

[jcnbkk]

Combine a few factors to arrest the problem. Pass laws to make asset seizure from criminal activity mandatory and immediate, with percentages of assets seized allocated to police involved and to (guaranteed anonymous) whistle-blowers. Then have police make annual asset/income disclosure with random checking (including generals) of wealth increase and tax records. False declaration considered criminal activity subject to asset seizure.

I'm sure DPM Chalerm would be in favour of this proposal to STOP CORRUPTION.

Not bad ideas, but if those with power thought they'd see a threat to their income they won't allow changes to upset the status quo

[apetley]

I wish someone would define - "inactive post"? So what - they cannot be fired? So move them sideways away from actually working or sitting at a desk? Why not simply charge them and throw them in with the rest of the crims in a cell. They'd take care of them then, and no pension etc to pay.

I asked a police friend of my wife that same question once.

Their answer was this. An inactive post is one where they have no responsibility or supervision. It means they are out of the loop as far as money being passed up the food chain goes. If it goes on for any length of time it can seriously cut back an officers 'pay'.

[rametindallas]

Since everyone knows of the many dens and they are only selectively and occasionally raided, could these selective raids be a signal that the hierarchy wants a larger cut to be kicked upstairs?

[rametindallas]

Quite obviously, legalisation solves most of the problem. Oh dear, have I said something too intelligent?

They made a legal lottery and it didn't hurt the underground lottery. Illegal casinos will flourish whether there is legal gambling or not.

[rametindallas]

Another example of the inacurate statements put out by those in power. "Many police officers turn a blind eye to illegal gambling". On many occasions it is in fact the police that are behind this industry and it is viewed as a most lucrative activity.

Perhaps if such officers are found to be involved in the perpretration of such activities then they should be prosecuted and dishonourably discharged.... not just removed to an inactive post Do they everstop to think how simply ludicrous they are.

Would you really think corrupt police would adequately investigate corrupt policemen? The 'inactive' posts means that they are still 'in the gang' and receive their cut (keeps them quiet) but can no longer advance up the chain of command. This has gone way past a few corrupt cops needing to be 'weeded' out. This is one of their primary sources of income and they ALL get a cut. There is no stopping this just as there is no stopping politicians from their corrupt schemes. This is Thailand (TiT). The sooner you accept this, the better you will sleep.