Immigration Bureau predicts 4000-5000 dabbling on casinos during New Year Holidays

The Office of Immigration Bureau expects that a large number of Thai citizens will be traveling to neighboring countries in order to gamble during the New Year Holidays.

The Commander of the Office of Immigration Bureau, Pol Lt Gen Suwat Thamrongsrisakul (สุวัฒน์ ธำรงศรีสกุล), admitted that his officers could not intercept Thai citizens who were intent on crossing the border to gamble in neighboring countries during the New Year Holidays as the activity was an individual right. Pol Lt Gen Suwat reports that he had instructed all border stations to accomodate border crossings in the customary manner.

The commander expects that the majority of gamblers will cross through 4 areas, including the Aranyaprates (อรัญประเทศ) checkpoint in Sra Kaew province, the Kab Sherng (กาบเชิง) checkpoint in Surin province, the Mae Sai checkpoint in Chiang Rai provinces, and the Trat province checkpoint.

An estimated 4000-5000 persons are expected to cross through borders daily. Pol Lt Gen Suwat said that authorities will be posting signs depicting the negative consequences of gambling, and military and police forces will be on hand to deliver government policy on gambling.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 09 December 2006

.... and military and police forces will be on hand to deliver government policy on gambling.

It sounds like a waste of resources to me.

Don't they have better things to do????????????

.... and military and police forces will be on hand to deliver government policy on gambling.

It sounds like a waste of resources to me.

Don't they have better things to do????????????

Yup I fully agree. Why can't they focus on something more constructive or useful? Like make gambling legal and add 7% VAT and maybe 15% Tax Deducted at Source against income tax or something. I have a feeling that suddenly national tax collection will rise and so will the retaining of Thai money within Thailand. To top it all, it will also attract a lot of Chinese tourists. Think about it.

They have a national policy on gambling? I think they have a law on it, but I'd be interested to know what policy applies to Thai people leaving the country and gambling elsewhere!

They have a national policy on gambling? I think they have a law on it, but I'd be interested to know what policy applies to Thai people leaving the country and gambling elsewhere!

It would be ridiculous having one, just my 2 baht

Another example of the Nanny state in Thailand.

.... and military and police forces will be on hand to deliver government policy on gambling.

It sounds like a waste of resources to me.

Don't they have better things to do????????????

Yes. Guarding illegal casinos for one.

All governments find gambling a difficult issue. Do they make money from it (national lottery etc) or worry about the social issues?

This has always been the way.

You can say Nanny State and all that, but some people do need to be protected from themselves.

Yup I fully agree. Why can't they focus on something more constructive or useful? Like make gambling legal and add 7% VAT and maybe 15% Tax Deducted at Source against income tax or something. I have a feeling that suddenly national tax collection will rise and so will the retaining of Thai money within Thailand. To top it all, it will also attract a lot of Chinese tourists. Think about it.

This is not going to happen.

The very powerful religious rightwing will not allow that to happen. Especially under this government these folks have enormous power, more so even than under Thaksin.

Yup I fully agree. Why can't they focus on something more constructive or useful? Like make gambling legal and add 7% VAT and maybe 15% Tax Deducted at Source against income tax or something. I have a feeling that suddenly national tax collection will rise and so will the retaining of Thai money within Thailand. To top it all, it will also attract a lot of Chinese tourists. Think about it.

This is not going to happen.

The very powerful religious rightwing will not allow that to happen. Especially under this government these folks have enormous power, more so even than under Thaksin.

But if they weld so much power and want to keep Thailand casino free, why do the underground ones stay open?

I think there will be a change in thinking slowly to allow casinos to be operated under strict conditions. It may take a few more years thou, perhaps after Singapore opens up their 1st one.

But if they weld so much power and want to keep Thailand casino free, why do the underground ones stay open?

Because exactly because they are illegal and underground.

The big ones are heavily fortified, are protected by the local population, an army of private security, the local police who makes a considerable amount of money from the existence of those casinos, and the the owners are very well connected big wigs beyond the reach of the law.

Even the small casinos only exist because the pay huge monthly sums to the police.

If you want to read up on this subject, i advise you to get 'Guns, Girls, Gambling, Ganja: Thailand's Illegal Economy and Public Policy' by Pasuk Phongpaichit and Christopher John Baker. The gambling chapters there are the best researched ones.

But if they weld so much power and want to keep Thailand casino free, why do the underground ones stay open?

Because exactly because they are illegal and underground.

The big ones are heavily fortified, are protected by the local population, an army of private security, the local police who makes a considerable amount of money from the existence of those casinos, and the the owners are very well connected big wigs beyond the reach of the law.

Even the small casinos only exist because the pay huge monthly sums to the police.

If you want to read up on this subject, i advise you to get 'Guns, Girls, Gambling, Ganja: Thailand's Illegal Economy and Public Policy' by Pasuk Phongpaichit and Christopher John Baker. The gambling chapters there are the best researched ones.

sounds like a good read