Will casinos ever be part of Thailand's landscape?

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE
Will casinos ever be part of Thailand's landscape?
ATTAYUTH BOOTSRIPOOM

BANGKOK: -- OVER the past week, there has been intense debate over a proposal to legalise casinos in Thailand. The idea was floated by a group of National Reform Council members, who called themselves "NRC Patriots" and argued that revenue from casino legalisation could help prop up the national economy.

This is a hot potato, as casinos are generally seen as unacceptable in Thai society. Proponents of casinos and their supporters are normally viewed as sinners.

It is not surprising that we do not know the identity of all the NRC members who floated the idea. We just know that two of them are Anan Watcharothai and Boonlert Kachayuthadej, as the other proponents in the NRC have kept a low profile over this issue. They are said to have been shocked by the strong social opposition against the idea, so they do not want to reveal their identity.

It has been rumoured that this group of NRC members was instructed by a powerful figure to float the idea publicly. A fellow NRC member, Sira Jenjaka, claimed that the 'NRC Patriots' were given an order from a powerful figure to do so in exchange for seats in the Reform Movement Council, the body which will replace the NRC. The NRC is to be dissolved after completing its task of voting on whether to endorse the draft constitution.

Sira said that the "deal" also involved an offer of Bt10 billion to fund the setting up of a new political party. The ball is now in the court of the 'NRC Patriots', who have to explain themselves against the allegations.

Earlier, executives of a world-class casino business attempted to meet with certain powerful figures in the government, possibly to lobby for the establishment of legal casinos in Thailand.

There was also a surprise move by national police chief, Police General Somyot Poompanmoung, who has openly voiced support for legalisation of casinos. His strong backing for legal casinos has drawn criticism on whether it is proper for the police chief to publicly back an illegal business. They told him to focus on tackling the problem of police accepting bribes from illegal gambling dens. Some critics also called for the police chief to be dismissed.

Somyot responded that he simply proposed the idea and did no wrong. He said the question should be for "people all over the country" to answer - which appears to suggest the idea should be put to a national referendum. This issue comes at a time when the country is due to have a referendum on the draft constitution. The amended provisional charter allows two additional questions for the plebiscite, in addition to the one that asks whether voters approve of the draft charter.

If the idea gets sufficient support, there may be a question in the referendum as to whether voters want legal casinos to be set up in Thailand.

However, before going straight to that "big question", we should first try to answer smaller relevant ones.

First, why would we want casinos? Do we want money to help prop up the economy? Do we want to stop the outflow of money to casinos outside the country? Do we want to get rid of bribery from illegal casinos? Or do we want something that is more manageable and controllable?

If those are what we want, the next question is whether legalisation of casinos would be able to meet all those needs. Would revenue from legal casinos be enough to help prop up the economy? And isn't this the money that is already circulating in the country's economic system?

Would local gamblers be prevented from trying their luck overseas? Would we really be able to prevent gambling money from flowing out of the country? This might not be the case if local gamblers faced a lot of rules to enter legal casinos.

If legal casinos were restricted to well-to-do gamblers only, small illegal gambling dens would still be operating to meet the demand.

This in turn would allow corrupt police officers to get bribes, as is the case at present.

Before we ask the question whether casinos should be legalised, we should ask if we would get the expected benefits. If the answer is yes, we could go ahead with legalising casinos.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Will-casinos-ever-be-part-of-Thailands-landscape-30263065.html


-- The Nation 2015-06-25

[little mary sunshine]

Don't you think there is enough "back room" stuff to

Keep the poor gamblers poor already?

[arend]

Since the government is already in the gaming industry via the lottery, why not also open a few casinos. It's a significant income stream. Just keep it tightly reined in to a few locations...Government dictated morality is a poor policy. When people can choose their morality, it's meaningful....

Gambling addiction is a problem but these individuals can be identified and blacklisted until rehabilitated...

Edited June 25, 2015 by arend

[wabothai]

Gambling is against the law and the policechief .......

[tbthailand]

Will casinos ever be part of Thailand's landscape?

well, having seen the damage that gambling can do to people's lives in Thailand, I hope not.

On the practical side, I am waiting to see if the casinos will be state run with all the revenue going to the government coffers or if this will be licensing of private casinos so that a very small number of already rich Thais can "farm on the backs" of the Thai people and become even more, fabulously, rich...

[NickJ]

It would just take a perfect storm of the right people in power, and..........Only a matter of time.

[northernjohn]

Will casinos ever be part of Thailand's landscape?

well, having seen the damage that gambling can do to people's lives in Thailand, I hope not.

On the practical side, I am waiting to see if the casinos will be state run with all the revenue going to the government coffers or if this will be licensing of private casinos so that a very small number of already rich Thais can "farm on the backs" of the Thai people and become even more, fabulously, rich...

I would imagine if it ever happens it will be Government run. While I am against them having a bit of knowledge as to the damage gambling can do to people I do believe that some future government will bring them in.

Here in Chiang Mai when Thaksin was still in power there was talk of a large area being bought up to build one in by a private company. Talk slowly died out and ended when Abhist was in office.

To make them practical I wonder how much population would be required in the vicinity they are set up in to make them profitable? Also what about all the people who don't live in those areas? Would it really stop the illegal back room gambling dens?

[Gunna]

I have read that there are more than a 1,000 illegal Casinos in Thailand with over 600 in Bangkok alone. Most are owned by Police, Politicians and people of influence ( I only have personal experience of 3 and it wasn't to gamble in them. I was told that it would never be raided as the owners had connection to the top of Thai Hisos and higher who can't be mentioned )

Thais ( maybe due to so much Chinese ethnicity ) will gamble on anything and borrow from loan sharks to do it. In these illegal Casinos the loan sharks are actually inside and will take watches, motorbikes, cars, gold and even Chanotes from desperate gamblers.

So not allowing legal casinos just sends it underground or offshore.

Lots of criminals get rich and the Thai Government gets nothing.

If you ask me as a person who despises gambling and has lost a house, farm and my Thai family to illegal gambling in Thailand, I would much rather it was legalised and the Government collecting some taxes and regulating the loan sharks.

[rametindallas]

Will casinos ever be part of Thailand's landscape?

Casinos are already in most neighborhoods where there are enough gamblers. So the real question is: will government sanctioned casinos be ever be a legal part of Thailand's landscape. One key word is 'ever'; that means before the end of time. So, the answer is, yes. Some time in the future, Thailand will have legal casinos everywhere. The other key word is 'landscape' which means casinos everywhere. Combine that with the word 'ever' and the answer is, yes. Sometime in the future Thailand will have legal casinos everywhere.

I worked in a casino for three years; the last six months as a Black Jack dealer. They do help the tax base but Mississippi is not Thailand and Thailand is the 88th most corrupt country out of 192 listed. I can't see the whole process not being abused by the connected to launder their money and also to skim off cash before it is reported to the government. Any government watch-dog will either be threatened or bribed to not watch too closely.

Never forget, This is Thailand.

This does not take into account that it will be easier to feed gambling addictions. Gambling is not called a 'vice' for nothing. Should the government be promoting vice? Should the Nat. Pol. Chief be promoting the legalization of vice?

.

[NeilSA1]

The national police chief, Police General Somyot Poompanmoung could not make an informed decision about Thaksin's police rank, yet he is very vocal about legalizing casinos.

Seems to be out of character. Suspicious or not?

[ksamuiguy]

I hope Not!

[Jersey Jim]

Why do they not legalize gambling virtually all civilized countries allow gambling

[Pinot]

I put casinos in Thailand in the same category as nuclear reactors for Thailand...terrible ideas.

[retarius]

We don't need casinos and gambling in LOS, bringing with it organised crime, drugs and prostitution. Keep it out!