NRC group proposes legalising casinos in Thailand

[halloween]

Removing an existing ban is reform. Your pedantic nit-picking is becoming more than boring.

How can you have pedantic nit-picking? Is nit-picking not by its very definition pedantry?

Sorry, I don't have much to do today and thought I would take a cheap shot...

I'm a Rex Mossop fan - I have copy of his personally signed autobiography that he wrote himself.

[baboon]

Removing an existing ban is reform. Your pedantic nit-picking is becoming more than boring.

How can you have pedantic nit-picking? Is nit-picking not by its very definition pedantry?

Sorry, I don't have much to do today and thought I would take a cheap shot...

I'm a Rex Mossop fan - I have copy of his personally signed autobiography that he wrote himself.

Well.. Well I have a personalised Bill Bryson 'One Summer'. So there.?

[Freed1948]

Casinos??? I wouldn't bet on it!

[Wat dee]

Our casinos in Canada are heavily patronized by Asians. They love to gamble. Casinos are generally run by very professional organizations who know what they are doing.

And yes, they contribute heavily to the community and charities. But there is a dark side. Addiction comes easily. Noteworthy, a lady hung herself in a local casino washroom stall after blowing her daughter's $10,000 wedding fund in the casino. Many homes and businesses have been lost, families and marriages destroyed by casino gambling.

No doubt they would be an excellent tourist attraction to Thailand. But it would be a shame to destroy the lives of many already impoverished Thai Nationals with this fun and addidictive "voluntary tax".

Knowing how major part of Thais cant handle their gambling so legalizing it would just destroy lives. All those walking ATM's would have a bulls eye on their backs for easy withdrawal. Violence,robberies against foreigners would rise dramatically.If they open casinos,access with foreign pp only.

[wabothai]

smelling money boys?

[SABloke]

Just to be clear: They a proposing legalising casinos not gambling as a whole. As usual the lawmakers love creating 'grey' zones which leaves a lot of room open for abuse and monopoly control of a market.

[stoli]

While buying a lottery ticket, critics often argue that Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, so the government should not legalise gambling, which is a sin

Buying a lottery ticket is not gambling; It is just stupidity. It is using a $5 bill to light a $1 cigarette. Popular, yes, but not gambling. Legal theft.

[stoli]

Removing an existing ban is reform. Your pedantic nit-picking is becoming more than boring.

How can you have pedantic nit-picking? Is nit-picking not by its very definition pedantry?

Sorry, I don't have much to do today and thought I would take a cheap shot...

I'm a Rex Mossop fan - I have copy of his personally signed autobiography that he wrote himself.

Is it possible to have an "autobiography" written by someone other than by the person the book is about? Wouldn't that be a "biography"?

[stoli]

Almost 2 years ago, during a street fair on Beach Road in Pattaya, they put up a 20 foot wide sign showing development on Beach Road. Where the Hard Rock hotel was located, it stated, "The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino". Someone jumped the gun. I heard a rumor, and just a rumor, 2 years ago that one of those huge pieces of property on Beach Road had been purchased by the MGM Grand out of Vegas. I would have to think that the Sands is aware of every piece of land available, if they have not already picked up their own as well. Gambling will come to Thailand. It is interesting in the article how they talk about all the Thai's that go elsewhere for gambling, but they are not thinking of Bangkok. They are thinking of Pattaya where the farangs are. Very smart. Go after the tourist and retiree's money. I just pity the traffic that will be caused. Have you ever driven down the Las Vegas strip?

[razer]

My experience in other countries with gambling but not open gambling, the gaming is restricted to hotels/resorts and their guests.

[Oziex1]

How do you leave a casino with a small fortune?

Go in with a very big one!

[Prbkk]

The only winners in this would be the hiso, connected cronies who get the license to operate the monopoly. More money for billionaires is not what Thailand needs.

[LannaGuy]

I think it's a great idea to stop illegal gambling and regulate it. It would bring in billions to Thailand with the Chinese etc. and stop the wealthy going to other countries casinos. Long overdue.

[smutcakes]

I am neither here nor there on casinos being legal, be it that gambling is pretty much the only vice which i hold no interest in!.

I would like to know the reason why these NRC members suddenly think this is a good time to raise it, and perhaps even if they have been encouraged/incentivised by some vested interests to do so........

[phoenixdoglover]

Casinos in Pattaya.

Sounds like a straight flush.

Seriously, I have no moral objection; but the NRC seems to be splintering into factions, and some of them have lost the plot.

[Jim walker]

A casino in Pattaya will this get rid of the Russian mafia and let the real big gangster boys come in with the casinos

[halloween]

Removing an existing ban is reform. Your pedantic nit-picking is becoming more than boring.

How can you have pedantic nit-picking? Is nit-picking not by its very definition pedantry?

Sorry, I don't have much to do today and thought I would take a cheap shot...

I'm a Rex Mossop fan - I have copy of his personally signed autobiography that he wrote himself.

Is it possible to have an "autobiography" written by someone other than by the person the book is about? Wouldn't that be a "biography"?

Not an Aussie? Rex was a sports commentator notorious for tautology. "personally signed autobiography that he wrote himself." was one of his better efforts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Mossop

Edited June 16, 2015 by halloween

[Basil B]

The only winners in this would be the hiso, connected cronies who get the license to operate the monopoly. More money for billionaires is not what Thailand needs.

They could be state run like the Lottery.

Having to present a passport with a visit visa or visa exempt stamp, Thai's and long term residents would have to register for membership, and apply for a spending limit that is within their means, all currency to chip and chip to currency conversions to be recorded along with ID to prevent money laundering.

As for it to be a sin, I think gambling is a very minor sin compared to some other sin regularly committed by Thai Buddhists.

Edited June 16, 2015 by Basil B

[BKKdreaming]

when the lottery started in California many kids went to school hungry as food money was spent on lottery tickets,

it gives the wrong idea that you can get rich by doing nothing,,,,,,

A casino is the same thing X 20.....

Poor people dream of getting rich and lose the little money they have...

[newnative]

Totally agree with Lannaguy. Casinos are long overdue. As for the timing, perhaps some on the NRC realize that if you are not moving forward you are going backwards. Tourism is a huge business and Thailand needs to protect itself from newcomers like Vietnam that are getting their acts together. Singapore is thriving with casinos and there's no reason Thailand can't as well. This would be a good test for the current regime to see if they can keep corruption out of a new enterprise and manage it well. As for some being hurt by gambling, probably true but some safeguards could be put in place. And, remember, people are already gambling here with the lottery, illegal sports betting, and so on. Governments can tell people that smoking is bad and drinking is bad and eating fatty food is bad and not exercising is bad, etc., but, ultimately, it is up to the individual to make good or bad choices.

[lostoday]

when the lottery started in California many kids went to school hungry as food money was spent on lottery tickets,

it gives the wrong idea that you can get rich by doing nothing,,,,,,

A casino is the same thing X 20.....

Poor people dream of getting rich and lose the little money they have...

Gambling in China is officially illegal under Chinese law.^[1] In practice, however, Chinese people can participate in state-run lotteries and engage in legalgambling in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, whose legal systems resemble those of European countries which formerly administered those regions (the United Kingdom and Portugal, respectively

[Neeranam]

While buying a lottery ticket, critics often argue that Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, so the government should not legalise gambling, which is a sin

What's all this nonsense about Buddhist country and sin etc.

One can be a Buddhist and gamble.

In Las Vegas a prominently Christian city, many Christians gamble and it is also a sin.

[lostoday]

While buying a lottery ticket, critics often argue that Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, so the government should not legalise gambling, which is a sin

What's all this nonsense about Buddhist country and sin etc.

One can be a Buddhist and gamble.

In Las Vegas a prominently Christian city, many Christians gamble and it is also a sin.

The Catholic church? Aw come on. What about bingo? It supports many church functions doesn't it?

[BKKdreaming]

Las Vegas was not built by winners !

[Oziex1]

I think it's a great idea to stop illegal gambling and regulate it. It would bring in billions to Thailand with the Chinese etc. and stop the wealthy going to other countries casinos. Long overdue.

The word "regulate" in Thailand simply translates as, were running the Casino and we will profit in any and all ways we can and next to the Casino will be another Casino next to that will be you guessed it, yep another Casino.

Beware of a lucky winning streak, the Thai crooks er I mean, decent self regulating Casino owners, might send the boys around to have a quiet word.

They have barely regulated the beach chair mafia, a cash cow like a Casino has no hope of anything that remotely resembles regulation or fair play.

Also as for bringing in Billions yes it's true that could happen but will it fix the roads, reduce road deaths, remove the garbage, clean the air of Issan or improve the standard of living for any one.

No chance it will go into the pockets and Swiss bank accounts of those who are already filthy filthy rich.

[lostoday]

I think it's a great idea to stop illegal gambling and regulate it. It would bring in billions to Thailand with the Chinese etc. and stop the wealthy going to other countries casinos. Long overdue.

The word "regulate" in Thailand simply translates as, were running the Casino and we will profit in any and all ways we can and next to the Casino will be another Casino next to that will be you guessed it, yep another Casino.

Beware of a lucky winning streak, the Thai crooks er I mean, decent self regulating Casino owners, might send the boys around to have a quiet word.

They have barely regulated the beach chair mafia, a cash cow like a Casino has no hope of anything that remotely resembles regulation or fair play.

Also as for bringing in Billions yes it's true that could happen but will it fix the roads, reduce road deaths, remove the garbage, clean the air of Issan or improve the standard of living for any one.

No chance it will go into the pockets and Swiss bank accounts of those who are already filthy filthy rich.

By that logic one would never go to a mall or 7/11. The rich get richer, is that a new thought for you? They occasionally throw crumbs to the poor and that is what we are all hoping for. Of course there are all those thousands of high paying jobs for dealers and all the staff that the modern day casino needs. I guess you don't want Thai people to have those jobs eh?

[Oziex1]

I think it's a great idea to stop illegal gambling and regulate it. It would bring in billions to Thailand with the Chinese etc. and stop the wealthy going to other countries casinos. Long overdue.

The word "regulate" in Thailand simply translates as, were running the Casino and we will profit in any and all ways we can and next to the Casino will be another Casino next to that will be you guessed it, yep another Casino.

Beware of a lucky winning streak, the Thai crooks er I mean, decent self regulating Casino owners, might send the boys around to have a quiet word.

They have barely regulated the beach chair mafia, a cash cow like a Casino has no hope of anything that remotely resembles regulation or fair play.

Also as for bringing in Billions yes it's true that could happen but will it fix the roads, reduce road deaths, remove the garbage, clean the air of Issan or improve the standard of living for any one.

No chance it will go into the pockets and Swiss bank accounts of those who are already filthy filthy rich.

By that logic one would never go to a mall or 7/11. The rich get richer, is that a new thought for you? They occasionally throw crumbs to the poor and that is what we are all hoping for. Of course there are all those thousands of high paying jobs for dealers and all the staff that the modern day casino needs. I guess you don't want Thai people to have those jobs eh?

My logic is sound, Casinos are well known for the devastating social problems they cause, not dissimilar to drug addiction. With the easy money they generate comes the crooks.

Casino profits cannot be compared to what comes from shopping malls as the malls and 7/11 provide goods and services many that are essential to daily life,

Casinos provide no essential service.

Thousands of high paying jobs, in Thailand maybe, More like thousands of low paying jobs for imported labour from Myanmar or Cambodia.

As for the rich getting richer a new thought to me, why do you choose to talk down to me like that.

Nothing makes money like money its self. The issue I have is the complete and utter lack of social conscience of these people who exploit the system, avoid paying tax use crooked officials to get their own way.

All the billions coming in creating more wealth for a few with little benefit for the wider community. Thailand has the capacity to generate great wealth for it's people without casinos. Thailand has great wealth that is very very poorly shared.

[lostoday]

My logic is sound, Casinos are well known for the devastating social problems they cause, not dissimilar to drug addiction. With the easy money they generate comes the crooks.

Casino profits cannot be compared to what comes from shopping malls as the malls and 7/11 provide goods and services many that are essential to daily life,

Casinos provide no essential service.

Thousands of high paying jobs, in Thailand maybe, More like thousands of low paying jobs for imported labour from Myanmar or Cambodia.

As for the rich getting richer a new thought to me, why do you choose to talk down to me like that.

Nothing makes money like money its self. The issue I have is the complete and utter lack of social conscience of these people who exploit the system, avoid paying tax use crooked officials to get their own way.

All the billions coming in creating more wealth for a few with little benefit for the wider community. Thailand has the capacity to generate great wealth for it's people without casinos. Thailand has great wealth that is very very poorly shared.

By and large, Macau remains a safe place with 182 violent crimes reported in the first three months of this year, up one from the same period a year earlier, according to figures from the Secretary for Security. The city is home to 500,000 people, while Macau's three dozen casinos attract more than 28 million visitors a year.

Vickers says that while the city's big casinos, some owned by U.S. tycoons Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson, operate correctly and legally, they work in a "messy environment

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/17/world/asia/macau-dark-side/

Casinos provide thousands good jobs and billions in foreign exchange coming into Thailand.

The big boys don't want violence or crime it is not profitable. The casinos will be owned by Thai people and operated by American professionals for a small percent. The great majority of the new money will stay in Thailand and circulate in the economy.

Casinos are well known to eliminate taxes and support large economies. Maybe you should check all of the positive and negative effects of casinos in Las Vegas and Macau before you shoot off the religious anti gambling line.

I talk down to you because you obviously have not done your research. Casinos draw go go dancers and prostitutes OK so? I was wondering what we were going to do with all of them once Thailand switches to high class family tourists. Now I know. Have you seen all the hotel construction in Pattaya? Have you ever wondered why they built all those giant hotels?