Study reveals truth behind Thailand's gambling addiction

[webfact]

Study reveals truth behind Thailand's gambling addiction
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The "underground lottery" remains the most popular form of gambling in Thailand with an estimated capital of Bt100 billion per year, while the government lottery follows with a capital of Bt76.77 billion, a study by Chulalongkorn University's Social Research Institute revealed yesterday.

The study on gambling in Thailand was carried out by Dr Pinij Larpthananon, a researcher at the institute, along with his associates. It was conducted on 5,042 respondents aged over 15, from 16 provinces.

Responses indicated that most people (64.2 per cent) had gambled in the past year and over 63 per cent used to gamble when they were under the age of 24. The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old.

Based on the results of respondents, the study also calculated the different types of gambling practised as a percentage number of Thailand's population. The underground lottery came top with an estimated 19,923,643 gamblers, followed by the government lottery with 19,211,727 gamblers.

Ranked third, was illegal gambling dens with an estimated 3,125,705 gamblers, followed by football betting with 1,067,418 gamblers. In fifth was gambling on local sports with approximately 883,592 gamblers, the study said.

Phongsathon Chantharassami, manager of the Information Centre for Gambling Control Policy, under the Sodsri-Saridwongsa Foundation, said law enforcement was the key to tackling illegal gambling in the country. Citing a Royal Thai Police report that said police had made 3,988 gambling-related arrests in the first half of this year, Phongsathon said it demonstrated that the current law on gambling was out-of-date and ineffective in tackling the problem.

As for the gambling act draft legislation, which was approved by the Cabinet in principle in October 2011 and would soon be submitted to the Council of State consideration, Phongsathon expressed concern that it didn't accurately cover the modern world of gambling. One example, he said, was the fact that it made no reference to the growing problem of gambling among children and young people.


-- The Nation 2013-08-16

[bangarang]

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

[Mampara]

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

[koratkid2]

Funny how the police bust some gamblers but has anyone ever been to a boxing stadium? The police, in uniform, are right there.

[edwardandtubs]

If so many people do it then clearly it's accepted by society, so why not just legalise and regulate it like in most countries? Because the corrupt powers that be get a bigger cut keeping things the way they are.

[johnny wokhard]

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

[NongKhaiKid]

How did the researcher know to interview a 7 year old or was this an adult explaining when he / she started ? It's a little misleading.

[arthurboy]

Phongsathon Chantharassami, manager of the Information Centre for Gambling Control Policy, under the Sodsri-Saridwongsa Foundation, said law enforcement was the key to tackling illegal gambling in the country.

Well it's good to see that Khun Phongsathon has a sense of humour.

Someone please remind him that there's too much money at stake and too many influential people with their snouts in this particular trough.

[willyumiii]

That must be Thai logic.

It happens cuz people admit it happens?

Then I guess denial would stop it?

"just don't think about it"

How many times have you heard a Thai say taht?

It makes no sense at all!

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

That's exactly why its so difficult to stop in Thailand, because foreign parents openly admit to sending their 7 year old's to buy tobacco and booze.

[BrianCR]

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

Not here either unless you are referring in general to village shops? Same as in the UK, go to a rural shop and they'll even sell you their daughter, same here if you go to a village!

P.S send a 7 yo to buy fags in the UK and he/she will more than likely get mugged on the way, especially carrying that kind of money!

Edited August 16, 2013 by BrianCR

[harrry]

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

Not here either unless you are referring in general to village shops? Same as in the UK, go to a rural shop and they'll even sell you their daughter, same here if you go to a village!

P.S send a 7 yo to buy fags in the UK and he/she will more than likely get mugged on the way, especially carrying that kind of money!

Probably smoke them all on the way back if they manage to get them.

[sms747]

Funny how the police bust some gamblers but has anyone ever been to a boxing stadium? The police, in uniform, are right there.

I have even seen senior monks betting on muay thai matchs in the early hours in Bkk, nobody seemed surprised at all.

[Tchooptip]

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

You send your seven year old for whisky and fags! Are you not ashamed?

[Bluespunk]

"Based on the results of respondents, the study also calculated the different types of gambling practised as a percentage number of Thailand's population. The underground lottery came top with an estimated 19,923,643 gamblers, followed by the government lottery with 19,211,727 gamblers."

Ah guesstimates.

[MikeENZ]

Of you could, ya know, legalise it..

[Nickymaster]

Phongsathon Chantharassami, manager of the Information Centre for Gambling Control Policy, under the Sodsri-Saridwongsa Foundation, said law enforcement was the key to tackling illegal gambling in the country.

I always thought that the key of tackling (illegal) gambling (addiction/problems) was upbringing and education. Silly me.

Edited August 16, 2013 by Nickymaster

[GAZZPA]

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

Not here either unless you are referring in general to village shops? Same as in the UK, go to a rural shop and they'll even sell you their daughter, same here if you go to a village!

P.S send a 7 yo to buy fags in the UK and he/she will more than likely get mugged on the way, especially carrying that kind of money!

Have you ever lived in a village in England? 7 year old kiddies cannot walk in and buy booze and fags. Most parents in the UK would not dream of sending their 7 year old to do such a thing anyway,,

[klauskunkel]

Study reveals truth behind Thailand's gambling addiction

The study may have revealed the truth behind Thailand's gambling habit, but the article didn't. I still don't know why Thais are addicted to gambling. Hmm, Chinese genes maybe?

[NoshowJones]

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

That's exactly why its so difficult to stop in Thailand, because foreign parents openly admit to sending their 7 year old's to buy tobacco and booze.

How right you are, and a lot of them send the children on motorbikes.

[Tingnongnoi]

Funny how the police bust some gamblers but has anyone ever been to a boxing stadium? The police, in uniform, are right there.

That's because it is legal to bet in the stadiums, there is a tax payment from the promoters to government to allow it, same at the horse racing tracks

[bitcoinbob]

the sudy is all about getting the groundwork ready to legalize gambling in thailand. with asean coming in 2015 only way thailand will be able to compete and generate income is by making thailand one big gambling den.

[lujanit]

This is news? My wife is a member of several groups of card players and games are played all the time often for many hours at a stretch. Some significant sums of money can be involved as well.

Someone suggested legalizing gambling. Do you have any idea on how much that would impact on the income of the constabulary? Millions of baht a month would be my guess and that just could not be allowed now could it?

[Krataiboy]

Thailand, the pragmatic paradise.

[jacko45k]

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

Where is he from?

[Guest]

I was expecting some comprehensive psychological study of the root causes which lead to gambling among Thais.. not just few numbers how many people do gamble.

The science is not strong with this study or at least article.

[sprq]

"Truth" is a bunch of statistics? In my world, truth is not a collection of numbers.

[rozand]

text does not explain the why. I guess it is lack of education about the fact the the providers win, the players lose.

[mancub]

Well, i'm sure you have guessed wrong, most countries will only sell alcohol to over 18 or 21. i can send my seven year old to the shop for whisky and fags here. not in th uk

The youngest "gambler" was a seven-year-old... wow! It makes me wonder how young the little thais start drinking whiskey

About as young as the youngsters in your country, I guess.

That's exactly why its so difficult to stop in Thailand, because foreign parents openly admit to sending their 7 year old's to buy tobacco and booze.

He said that he CAN , not that he does or would ........understand the difference ?

[PEP]

An Invitation! Come to our village 24/7 to enjoy our Hassle Free Backyard Casino. Monthly "non-interference" levy of 15,000Baht will ensure no inturruptions.

[Mosha]

This is news? My wife is a member of several groups of card players and games are played all the time often for many hours at a stretch. Some significant sums of money can be involved as well.

Someone suggested legalizing gambling. Do you have any idea on how much that would impact on the income of the constabulary? Millions of baht a month would be my guess and that just could not be allowed now could it?

Well as the police run the underground lottery, they'll just find another illegal activity to replace it with.