NRC defers call for Thai casino

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NRC defers call for Thai casino
THE NATION


Thienchay Kiranandana

BANGKOK: -- NATIONAL Reform Council chairman Thienchay Kiranandana has put the brakes on a proposal from NRC members to legalise a casino, saying the council had only 60 days left to work so it did not have time to consider a new proposal.

Thienchay dismissed newspaper reports that the proposal was an NRC resolution, saying the council had never been asked to consider the proposal. He said it was just personal opinions of a few members.

He said people who wanted to push the proposal should submit it to a new reform body after the NRC's term ends.

NRC member Anan Vatcharatai led a group of 12 NRC members calling themselves "patriots" in pushing for a casino to be legalised. He said there were more than 12 NRC members who agreed with the proposal, as they believed it would help bring in additional income for the country. He believed Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would agree with the proposal if his group explained the economic benefits to him.

He said his group wanted to make the proposal an urgent project and become a reality during the Prayut government's time in office. He said he did not take orders from anyone or gain any benefit from pushing the proposal. The country should give it a chance and if it turned out to have negative impacts, the casino licence could be revoked.

He said his group were not gamblers and had prepared information regarding the casino being legalised and ready for opening.

NRC Boonlert Kachayudhadej said many Thais go abroad to spend money at casinos. If the government allowed a casino to be established, the money would be circulated domestically and the government could earn extra income from tax. He said the economy was in distress and needed to seek loans for new projects. Legalising a casino would boost the national coffers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/NRC-defers-call-for-Thai-casino-30262488.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-17

[canuckamuck]

This is their concept of national reform. building a casino? good to see the priorities never waiver - change the laws and make more cash - for in the in crowd.

[zaphod reborn]

The country can't even properly regulate a lottery. While I support legalized gambling, such a venture would be overrun with corruption in Thailand. It is more than any Thai government can handle at this point.

[optad]

"The country should give it a chance and if it turned out to have negative impacts, the casino licence could be revoked."

Hilarious. Policy decisions made with this kind of foresight and planning!!

A casino here could be the most disastrous event over time. The associated crime and social costs will be fantastic. Casinos sponsor the type of crime prevalent here already. Look at the spike of motorcycle thefts during the world cup!

And they are worried about the buses heading towards Cambodia and lost revenue? A predictable self serving argument but in any event they should consider that to be a social cost benefit currently.

[neeray]

There are so many things that Thailand could do to boost tourism besides entering the casino business.

[Cpkt8]

Gambling will only cause downfall of one's life and his/her loved ones' misery.

[Bellacissa]

I love a good casino, but I'm not sure Thailand is ready for that just yet. The checks and balances required to keep that industry regulated are staggering. As someone said, they are having a tough time getting lottery ticket pricing under control. Can you imagine trying to keep people from rigging slot machines and counting cards? And that's just on the consumer end. The back end of the casino is a huge operation that requires everyone keeping their hand out of the cookie jar in order for it to be successful. That's not something Thailand is particularly good at managing.

It might work if they brought in some experts from a country that has dealt with these issues and could set up the regulatory process for them, but I don't see that happening.

[Godders]

Gambling is proscribed by the Buddhist creed, to which over ninety percent of all Thais claim to be adherents. But just watch the locals rush to squander the housekeeping, the family savings and handouts begged from loan sharks when the first casinos open - as they assuredly will in the not-too-far-distant future..

For all the high-principled hogwash spouted by the present leadership, the sad truth is that in the Land of Smiles morality comes a very poor second to money..

More proof, if it were needed, is the plan cooked up between real estate developers and government officials to give away automatic free 20-year visas to foreigners who buy a condo in Pattaya costing three million baht or more. What a slap in the face to all those long-term resident expats - many married to Thais and supporting extended families - made to apply and pay annually for the privilege of staying another year in their adopted homeland..

Personally, I'd rather live in a yurt in Outer Mongolia than pay through the nose for a high-rise with a bird's eye view of the dubious goings-on in Gomorrah. But that's not the point. Thailand is constantly striving to be the "hub" of something or other. Why bother? It is already a world hub - of hypocrisy.

[optad]

Gambling is proscribed by the Buddhist creed, to which over ninety percent of all Thais claim to be adherents. But just watch the locals rush to squander the housekeeping, the family savings and handouts begged from loan sharks when the first casinos open - as they assuredly will in the not-too-far-distant future..

For all the high-principled hogwash spouted by the present leadership, the sad truth is that in the Land of Smiles morality comes a very poor second to money..

More proof, if it were needed, is the plan cooked up between real estate developers and government officials to give away automatic free 20-year visas to foreigners who buy a condo in Pattaya costing three million baht or more. What a slap in the face to all those long-term resident expats - many married to Thais and supporting extended families - made to apply and pay annually for the privilege of staying another year in their adopted homeland..

Personally, I'd rather live in a yurt in Outer Mongolia than pay through the nose for a high-rise with a bird's eye view of the dubious goings-on in Gomorrah. But that's not the point. Thailand is constantly striving to be the "hub" of something or other. Why bother? It is already a world hub - of hypocrisy.

Nice post and it is the social costs that should be the focus here.

RE that 20 year visa thing. That slipped past me but seems very tricky. Way too attractive to be true and if it approximately fulfills it promises every global crook who is not already down in Pattaya will be soon enough washing dirty money and getting effective residence.

http://www.andrew-drummond.com/2015/06/a-great-place-to-launder-money-and-get.html

[Bellacissa]

More proof, if it were needed, is the plan cooked up between real estate developers and government officials to give away automatic free 20-year visas to foreigners who buy a condo in Pattaya costing three million baht or more. What a slap in the face to all those long-term resident expats - many married to Thais and supporting extended families - made to apply and pay annually for the privilege of staying another year in their adopted homeland..

Or, you could be like me. Under 50, already married to a non-Thai, already have a non-Thai child and want to live here through retirement in my adopted homeland. Not sure how that's a slap in the face to you since none of what you describe applies to me. Also, even if you have a Thai family, you are still welcome to get the Thai Elite visa. Nothing is stopping you from obtaining the same thing. In fact, you'll pay a lot less for it if you don't want the condo as well. Me? I want both. So, it's not a bad deal for me. If I decide to go for it, I'll be paying for the privilege to live here just like you do. Just like I already do. Just like we all do.

As far as not wanting to live in Pattaya, well, it takes a certain mentality to live here for sure. Especially as a woman. Thankfully, I have that mentality and it doesn't bother me a bit. I'd love to see a casino here, but only if it's done the right way. And I'm not convinced it can be done the right way here. I'm also not convinced that the townsfolk have the wherewithal to only spend money that they can afford to lose. Never go to a casino with anything other than pocket change. The house always wins.

[Gunna]

There are thousands of illegal Casinos operating in Thailand, ranging from small ones with a few card tables in the lounge rooms of private homes to multi level ones in warehouses with thousands of tables and machines. eg in Bangkok just off Petchburi Road, Pinklao, - just ask any Taxi driver.

I have been to several to collect my ex-Thai wife who managed to gamble our house away.

Most are owned/operated by people of influence.

Politicians , Police and Army know who they are as many are from among their colleagues.

Therefore nobody wants to change the status quo as they will create too many enemies and if they try they and their families will be threatened.

It has nothing to do with Buddhism or NRC being too busy

They are happy with Thai people going to the Casinos at the border with Cambodia as many have ownership links back to Thai businessmen.