GAMBLING
Isaan teachers warned to keep away from gambling
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Tens of thousands of Thais were nabbed for gambling last year - so many that it now rates as the third highest category of criminal cases. It has also affected teachers in provinces in the lower Northeast.

Phongsathon Chantharassami from Sodsri-Saridwongsa Foundation has cited a Courts of Justice record that there were 49,572 gambling cases last year. This puts gambling as the third biggest problem after drugs and traffic offences.

Many complaints about teachers betting at casinos in a neighbouring country were sent to the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Education Personnel, Phongsathon said. Most came from Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sa Kaeo and Prachinburi provinces, which are near the border of Cambodia.

In Surin, he said, the governor instructed chiefs of government agencies to keep an eye on their subordinates and prohibit them from playing gambling games.

Phongsathon said the news was troubling - broken families with debt problems, which affected their teaching and students. It led to punishment, with some having their teaching licence withdrawn so that they aren't allowed to teach anymore.

Gambling offenders could also face a Bt500 fine and up to three months in jail, or a fine up to Bt5,000 or up to three years jail, under the Gambling Act BE 2478.

He warned teachers to keep away from gambling as it could affect their career. And in serious cases, they could be fired.

-- The Nation 2013-04-03

Pity they can't gamble anymore after cheating their way into a teacher's job. What is this world coming to?

Why is the Thai gov't concerned about the teachers going to a casino to gamble in a neighboring country when there are police protected gambling dens all over Issan.

"In Surin, he said, the governor instructed chiefs of government agencies
to keep an eye on their subordinates and prohibit them from playing
gambling games."

Sure like that is gonna work

Legalize gambling, open casinos in Chang Mai, Udon, Ubon, if the poor punters run out of money an go into debt then they can just come to bangkok for a protest, burn the city down, get arrested, get released scott free and then claim a few million thru some Gov't give away to those wrongfully accused.

The soft loans teachers have access to are one of the main causes of debt in their ranks. I am amazed how easy it is for teachers here to get large loans for all the latest toys.

lol what a joke.

The article sounds like it's asking teachers to stay away from the legal casinos in Lao/Cambodia etc

What they should be focusing on, is the illegal casinos / gambling dens in Thailand, and the gambling at funerals. As these are in the public eye, so teachers who gamble here will be known within the community as someone who gambles, and who does so illegally. Which of course sets a bad example for students. (The fact that it's illegal, but generally sanctioned by the police, is another matter entirely).

By comparison, the gambling which happens in casinos in Lao/Cambodia is out of the public eye, not many people will see a teacher in Lao/Cambodia, and even if they do, it's legal so much less of an issue.

An utter waste of time, internet bytes and newsprint.

However the Hi So Thai can of course swan of on gambling junkets whenever and wherever they want knowing now after this command was made regarding Isaan teachers that those social inferiors won't pollute the air and the casino's that the Hi.So frequent certainly those casino's in Cambodia.will now be cleansed of the socially inferior.

,

The soft loans teachers have access to are one of the main causes of debt in their ranks. I am amazed how easy it is for teachers here to get large loans for all the latest toys.

All 'Government Officials' (they love to call themselves that as it sounds very important and covers a multitude of jobs) get easy money from the banks on the basis of their guaranteed monthly income from Government sources. My wife has been retired now for 5 years but just because she gets a pension, and used to be a 'Government Official', the banks are constantly falling over each other to lend her large sums of money she neither wants or needs. She has told them all to stop the offers but they ignore her completely, so we now just ignore them and bung everything in the recycle bin. Irresponsible lending and behaviour by the banks is a large part of the problem here, as it has been in the West in the not so distant past.

An utter waste of time, internet bytes and newsprint.

Agreed....as well as some of the ridiculous comments about teachers in general in this thread.

Don't gamble myself but if these people are stupid enough to want to go into another country to gamble surely that's their business. If its legal in Cambodia why is it a criminal offence for Thais to take part while in Cambodia?

...

Legalize gambling, open casinos in Chang Mai, Udon, Ubon, if the poor punters run out of money an go into debt then they can just come to bangkok for a protest, burn the city down, get arrested, get released scott free and then claim a few million thru some Gov't give away to those wrongfully accused.

Looks like you've been quite effectively brain-washed by the Bangkok hi-so's. Us vs them ... 'them' being those barbarians in the provinces who gamble and drink away all their money and then go storm the centre of civilisation (Krungthep) to steal its hard-won riches. Would make a nice movie. Too bad it's pure fiction.

Does that include the Thai's favourite way to gamble.... the state lottery?

lol what a joke.

The article sounds like it's asking teachers to stay away from the legal casinos in Lao/Cambodia etc

What they should be focusing on, is the illegal casinos / gambling dens in Thailand, and the gambling at funerals. As these are in the public eye, so teachers who gamble here will be known within the community as someone who gambles, and who does so illegally. Which of course sets a bad example for students. (The fact that it's illegal, but generally sanctioned by the police, is another matter entirely).

By comparison, the gambling which happens in casinos in Lao/Cambodia is out of the public eye, not many people will see a teacher in Lao/Cambodia, and even if they do, it's legal so much less of an issue.

Well the problem starts at the question how gambling can be illegal? If I want to sit with some friends and play cards, than this isn't the governments business. If I loose more money than I can afford than I am an idiot, but if everyone get punished who is an idiot than there would be more people in jail than outside.

How comes people accept that Yingluck and Chalerm decide when they are allowed to drink, what substances they can use and what they do with their money in their free time???

(I neither gamble nor use drugs, but I deny the right of any government to decide for me, if I am allowed or not).

This puts gambling as the third biggest problem after drugs and traffic offences.

I would suggest it is at least fourth. First is, of course, corruption.

I thought Gambling, except for the government lottery, was illegal in every part of Thailand. Not just one area.

"Many complaints about teachers betting at casinos in a neighbouring country".....................I bet there were complaints (if I was legally allowed to, of course)............all the complaints emanating from those Thais running illegal gambling dens here in Thailand!

what people do legally (gambling) in other countries should not be questionned or reprimanded in thailand...

gambling is bad, yes, but do they hurt directly other people with bodely harm such as drugs (robbery, buglary) and alcohol (beaten up innocent people) + danger on the road for others ?

thai people call themselves buddist, when it suits them

greed, corruption, mia nois, ... they don't seem to have any moral problems with that

if the governement is afraid they would gamble away their salary in an official casino, why not make official ones, at least the maffia (bib) would be hopefully less involved and some money could go to the governement...

but hey, what seems logic to us farangs, doesn't make sense for most of thai people, as they are so much smarter, better, ... than the rest of the world (in their mind at least)

gambling and drinking is part of the Issan culture

When my Thai girlfriend, who is a teacher, comes to visit me in American I will make sure to keep her out of the legal casinos that are in every State.

Does that include the Thai's favourite way to gamble.... the state lottery?

Most of the laws are exempt IF the powers that be want them to be.

why warn teachers only, if there were no gambling dens no warings would have to be given.

When I see a headline like this, I just shake my head in wonder.. The Thai govt. is like some kindergarten teacher telling their kids not to pick their nose. Is this a country who claims to be the HUB of everything in Southeast Asia? Why do their citizens have to be told to do or not do anything? Have they no mind of their own? Are the citizens of Thailand so basically ignorant they have to be led around by the hand? It just boggles the mind.. I have yet to see a headline in the newspapers in the US, telling teachers not to gamble. Even in Nevada, New Jersey, Mississippi where there are casino's every other mile. Or telling people not to drink over New Years. Or telling people to wear helmuts when riding motorcyces. Maybe we just assume people in the US have a few brains in their head. Sorry to rant. But headlines like this are astounding.

what people do legally (gambling) in other countries should not be questionned or reprimanded in thailand...

gambling is bad, yes, but do they hurt directly other people with bodely harm such as drugs (robbery, buglary) and alcohol (beaten up innocent people) + danger on the road for others ?

thai people call themselves buddist, when it suits them

greed, corruption, mia nois, ... they don't seem to have any moral problems with that

if the governement is afraid they would gamble away their salary in an official casino, why not make official ones, at least the maffia (bib) would be hopefully less involved and some money could go to the governement...

but hey, what seems logic to us farangs, doesn't make sense for most of thai people, as they are so much smarter, better, ... than the rest of the world (in their mind at least)

I have been told time and time again that there is no word for LOGIC in the Thai language. Not sure if that statement is true, but I know the concept of logic does not exist with Thais.