New border casino ‘exemplifies globalisation’ of the business

[rooster59]

New border casino ‘exemplifies globalisation’ of the business

By Piyaporn Wongruang
The Nation

 

The photos of the new casino claimed by Veera/ Veera's Facebook page.

 

The opening of the controversial new casino near the sport hub province of Buri Ram only serves to reinforce “globalisation” of the business, and sadly the state has not kept pace with developments, researcher at the Centre of Gambling Studies, Rattaphong Sornsuphap, said.

 

Assistant Professor Rattaphong, who is also associated with Rangsit University’s Social Innovation College, has followed the recent news reports about the new casino and stumbled on the rationale of “globalisation” due to its proximity to a sports hub.

 

In recent years, he has been studying casinos and their impacts. The business has seen strong growth in the Asia Pacific region. This became possible due to economic growth in some countries, including China, which makes financial flows as well as tourism expansion possible across borders to feed the business.

 

In his paper “Casinos on the borders, Impacts and Challenges”, published some four years ago but still relevant in the eyes of some police officers, Rattaphong tried to explain this phenomenon.

 

Because of the rise of a major new emerging economy like China and some others, people seek entertainment that they can afford. This has prompted some countries in the region to come up with several kinds of casinos to serve the demand.

 

Singapore, for instance, came up with an “integrated resort”, under which casinos are on offer for visitors along with other entertainment activities.

 

Rattaphong pointed to the growth of the business in the region, which in 2010 was valued at around US$34.2 billion was projected to have grown to more than 49 per cent in 2015.

 

This is partly because the activity is legal in those countries.

 

However, in Thailand gambling and casinos are still considered illegal, and this prompts businesses to go underground, or even to the borders.

 

Rattaphong estimates that at least 10 major casinos have been opened along the borders, especially between Thailand and Cambodia.

 

The more interesting fact is that these casinos have also embraced betting in modern sports, including major league football from around the world.

 

High technology and the Internet make it possible to gamble online on matches almost everywhere, including at casinos along the borders.

 

The latest case of the new casino, he said, could exemplify how “globalisation” works here.

 

“Buri Ram houses several major or world-class sports,” said Rattaphong. “The point is if the games there enter the casino and are opened for gambling, that would reinforce its globalised nature here as the place is perfect for the activity. Our law, however, can hardly keep up with this emerging trend.”

 

The hard reality is these casinos along the borders are mostly legal in neighbouring countries, and that has led people to believe they are involve in money laundering and other shady businesses.

 

As they are situated in sensitive border zones, it’s hardly possible for ordinary people to invest in them, other than big investors with political connections. As such, it’s often found that those alleged to be involved in border casinos are politicians who have firm connections with others in neighbouring countries, he said.

 

Thailand, meanwhile, has relied principally on the 1935 gambling act, which is outdated, Rattaphong said.

 

With this outdated law, it can hardly keep up with this new emerging trend of casinos along the borders, which would spur what he calls “ a huge profit” as well as other “dark” activities.

 

“The challenge is whether the Thai state has realised this fact and come up with proper policies and measures to address this emergence,” said Rattaphong.

 

The professor suggested that the state review the existing law and come up with responsive regulations and controls for each type.

 

“Everything is not all black or white. There are different shades for us to deal with,” he said.

 

The opening of the new casino came under the spotlight after anti-corruption activist Veera Somkwamkid claimed in his Facebook posts that the gambling centre was located in an overlapping border area between Thailand and Cambodia, and possibly sited in the Ta Phraya National Park, which forms part of a World Heritage Site.

 

Veera questioned why the military government had allowed this to happen, and suspected that the previous post he had made on the same issue had led to a warrant being issued for his arrest over a week ago for violation of the Computer Crime Act.

 

The casino is reported to be situated close to the Chong Sai Takoo border checkpoint in Buri Ram province where former politician Newin Chidchob, now a football-club sponsor, is known to be influential.

 

Newin on Monday filed a complaint with the police seeking charges against the Facebook account owner, apparently Veera, for posts that he claimed had also implicated him of involvement with the casino, Nation TV reported.

 

But in his post last Sunday, Veera did not mention Newin, but referred to some close aides of Cambodian leaders.

 

He also alleged that Thailand’s National Parks Department was being negligent in carrying out its duty.

 

This resulted in the agency undertaking an examination of the official map of the national park to prove that the casino was not located within its perimeter, followed by a prompt denial of Veera’s allegation

 

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said on Tuesday that the Cabinet had not considered at its weekly meeting the issue of the new casino being allegedly sited on an adjoining territory between Thailand and Cambodia. The Foreign Ministry has also not written to Cambodian authorities regarding the matter, he said.

 

Don added that a number of casinos had opened in border areas without posing any problems.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30310300

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-03-26

[optad]

What a bent 'article'.

 

Casinos drain money. Call 'em for what they are. The choice of 'opinion' here is disturbing given the overall context and consequence of a new  casino near Buri Ram

[jaltsc]

"...due to its proximity to a sports hub."

 

Whoa!!!! We don't want your hub infringing on one of our hubs. We are the nation of hubs. Find you own stupid moniker. 

[yellowboat]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

As they are situated in sensitive border zones, it’s hardly possible for ordinary people to invest in them, other than big investors with political connections.

A safe zone for the Thai elite to make money.  How nice.   

[mikebell]

A law enacted in 1935 sums up Thailand nicely: over 80 years behind 1st World countries.

[robblok]

As with most laws, the law is set to protect the weakest people and does so at the expense of the stronger more capable people.

 

In this case there are plenty of people who can gamble and not get addicted, but there is a group that can't that is the group the law protects and by doing so spoils it for all. Same principle applies to drugs laws.

[madmitch]

The elites and the government must look in envy at the obscene amount of money made by the casinos in neighbouring countries, which makes me surprised that the law hasn't been amended in some way, particularly with the increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand.

 

 

[Briggsy]

7 minutes ago, madmitch said:

The elites and the government must look in envy at the obscene amount of money made by the casinos in neighbouring countries, which makes me surprised that the law hasn't been amended in some way, particularly with the increasing number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand.

 

 

You have made an incorrect assumption.

 

Look at the beneficial ownership of the casinos and where the profits end up and you will see that the Thai elites (well, some of them) are very content with the status quo.

 

Remember, all is rarely what it seems in Thailand or on its borders.

Edited March 26, 2017 by Briggsy

[worgeordie]

Globalisation of greed ,i would say.

regards worgeordie

[Destiny1990]

Casinos create jobs and boost tourism.i am not a gambler but still like hanging in casinos for dinners drinks shows leisure etc.In Europe additive gamblers will be banned from freguently visiting the casinos.I never been to these casinos near border but if they came to Phuket Bangkok and Pattaya i would love to go for a night out.

[williamgeorgeallen]

i worked in a casino for 6 years and i could tell you some sad desperate stories. that being said you would think thailand would be champing at the bit to open casinos for foreigners to empty their pockets. sort of a type of dual pricing where only foreigners are allowed in so thais cant loose their money. out of the millions of people who gambled at the casino i worked at i could not find a single one who had won more than they had lost.

[Reigntax]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

As with most laws, the law is set to protect the weakest people and does so at the expense of the stronger more capable people.

 

In this case there are plenty of people who can gamble and not get addicted, but there is a group that can't that is the group the law protects and by doing so spoils it for all. Same principle applies to drugs laws.

 

Yeh right. You mean just like the Computer Crimes act?

 

Those rural peasants abusing the law to muzzle the elites from exposing their international crimes and kickbacks.

 

Right now you have the military gambling away the country's future, they are on a losing streak and need to leave the game, go home and seek help for their addiction. 

[robblok]

Just now, Reigntax said:

 

Yeh right. You mean just like the Computer Crimes act?

 

Those rural peasants abusing the law to muzzle the elites from exposing their international crimes and kickbacks.

 

Right now you have the military gambling away the country's future, they are on a losing streak and need to leave the game, go home and seek help for their addiction. 

Do you have to make this politica again.. your boring. There are enough political topics go play there.

 

I was just stating that I see no problems with gambling and most people can gamble without problems however there is a small group that will gamble it all away (for some reason more prevalent with Asians). So by making laws to protect a few they limit it for loads of others who can gamble and have no problems (i don't gamble have in the past but does nothing for me)

 

Drug laws are made the same.. many can handle drugs and lead a normal life but some cant so they outlaw them all to protect the people at risk.

 

Just showing that laws are not tailored for everyone.

[tomacht8]

In countries where gambling is regulated by the state, high shares of casino profits (the tax rates are often 90%) flow back into the government treasury.  In the end, the profit is not lost, but is redistributed to large parts of the population.
Likewise, access is controlled by ID so that cronic addicted gamblers can be identified and excluded here.

It is different with the illegal casinos and with the private unregulated casinos , where the profit only flows into the pockets  of a few.
That damages the economy enormously.

Any non-state casino should be prohibited.
Regulated casinos yes with 90% taxes on the casino winnings.

Edited March 26, 2017 by tomacht8

[Reigntax]

6 minutes ago, robblok said:

Do you have to make this politica again.. your boring. There are enough political topics go play there.

 

I was just stating that I see no problems with gambling and most people can gamble without problems however there is a small group that will gamble it all away (for some reason more prevalent with Asians). So by making laws to protect a few they limit it for loads of others who can gamble and have no problems (i don't gamble have in the past but does nothing for me)

 

Drug laws are made the same.. many can handle drugs and lead a normal life but some cant so they outlaw them all to protect the people at risk.

 

Just showing that laws are not tailored for everyone.

 

You clearly dont understand what you write or you believe the tripe you post has some basis. 

 

Quote

"In this case there are plenty of people who can gamble and not get addicted, but there is a group that can't that is the group the law protects and by doing so spoils it for all." 

 

And it gets only better

 

Quote

"Drug laws are made the same.. many can handle drugs and lead a normal life but some cant so they outlaw them all to protect the people at risk."

 

I think you may find that those who often gamble and/or take drugs frequently believe they live a normal life because normal is seeking out the pleasure of the addiction and they are unable to see the effect it has on the people around them.

 

Whatever dosage you are currently on, it needs regulating!

 

 

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Reigntax said:

 

You clearly dont understand what you write or you believe the tripe you post has some basis. 

 

Quote

"In this case there are plenty of people who can gamble and not get addicted, but there is a group that can't that is the group the law protects and by doing so spoils it for all." 

 

And it gets only better

 

Quote

"Drug laws are made the same.. many can handle drugs and lead a normal life but some cant so they outlaw them all to protect the people at risk."

 

I think you may find that those who often gamble and/or take drugs frequently believe they live a normal life because normal is seeking out the pleasure of the addiction and they are unable to see the effect it has on the people around them.

 

Whatever dosage you are currently on, it needs regulating!

 

 

I am Dutch so I see things differently, i know of plenty people who use alcohol (drug), weed (drug), and other drugs and still lead a normal life. I have seen very few people slide down by drug use. Been to plenty of parties have partaken myself in drugs and it never interfered with my work.

 

I have gambled (not much as I see it as a waste of money and does not give me a thrill), seen others who gamble and they too have had a good social life.

 

I think if you look up studies you will see that only a minority of people really can't handle it.

 

Now your remark about frequently is totally valid if you cross certain lines (and those are again dependent on the person). Your far more at risk and probably belong to the group of people who should not use. 

 

People I talk about did drugs weekly (weed) or once a month XTC, now if start to need it a lot more then that you are probably at risk (but there are no hard limits). Same goes for gambling I could gamble every day and it would not do a thing to me (I dont like it so going there every day wont make me like it).

 

In the Netherlands we don't have much of a drug problem far less so as in the USA with its strict approach. For gambling i like what wat mentioned before state run casino's that exclude problem gamblers. (ID to get in) 

 

Its always hard to find a balance between protecting people and killing the fun for others. 

[Reigntax]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

I am Dutch so I see things differently, i know of plenty people who use alcohol (drug), weed (drug), and other drugs and still lead a normal life. I have seen very few people slide down by drug use. Been to plenty of parties have partaken myself in drugs and it never interfered with my work.

 

I have gambled (not much as I see it as a waste of money and does not give me a thrill), seen others who gamble and they too have had a good social life.

 

I think if you look up studies you will see that only a minority of people really can't handle it.

 

Now your remark about frequently is totally valid if you cross certain lines (and those are again dependent on the person). Your far more at risk and probably belong to the group of people who should not use. 

 

People I talk about did drugs weekly (weed) or once a month XTC, now if start to need it a lot more then that you are probably at risk (but there are no hard limits). Same goes for gambling I could gamble every day and it would not do a thing to me (I dont like it so going there every day wont make me like it).

 

In the Netherlands we don't have much of a drug problem far less so as in the USA with its strict approach. For gambling i like what wat mentioned before state run casino's that exclude problem gamblers. (ID to get in) 

 

Its always hard to find a balance between protecting people and killing the fun for others. 

 

Drugs and gambling are a drain on society and the wealth and health of surrounding family and society. However, I  also believe people should be free to make their own choice and destiny. Unfortunately both have an undesirable effect on immediate family who also have the right of not being disadvantaged by the actions of others.

 

I dont know too many 80 year old casual drug users, nor many 80 year old gamblers who wouldnt honestly look back on life and say they were glad they gambled all their life.

 

Both vices need control to maintain a civilised society as the purpose of both is to addict by pleasure, which guarantees return business and continuing profits for those in control.

[robblok]

1 minute ago, Reigntax said:

 

Drugs and gambling are a drain on society and the wealth and health of surrounding family and society. However, I  also believe people should be free to make their own choice and destiny. Unfortunately both have an undesirable effect on immediate family who also have the right of not being disadvantaged by the actions of others.

 

I dont know too many 80 year old casual drug users, nor many 80 year old gamblers who wouldnt honestly look back on life and say they were glad they gambled all their life.

 

Both vices need control to maintain a civilised society as the purpose of both is to addict by pleasure, which guarantees return business and continuing profits for those in control.

You don't know many 80 year old drug users.. how about all those people drinking alcohol ? (classified hard drug) ?

 

Anyway what you just stated i agree with 100%, its just hard to strike a balance, but it seems we did so quite well for alcohol (though it goes wrong there too.. alcoholics and wife beating when drunk, drunk driving ect, health damage). I just don't feel that the fact that it goes wrong in a small amount of cases should mean its banned for all. The prohibition in the USA is a great example how criminals got rich and loads of violence occurred because of strict measures. Its no different for other drugs. 

 

But I don't see a 100%  perfect solution either.. there is no perfect solution. Though the gambling problem with only getting on with an ID (should be checked well) and with registration of problem gamblers seems to work well. Even if they open casino's here you wont see me in there I have absolutely no interest in it but now all business is going to others and the state is losing out.

[12DrinkMore]

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“Buri Ram houses several major or world-class sports,”

 

Well, that is news to me.

 

My previous tangential contact with Buriram has involved several quite pleasant young ladies spread around the bars. They never mentioned any world-class sports, although one did suggest that I should go with her on holiday to see the farmland. 

[mick220675]

I live 10 mins from this casino, it is impressive better than anything at O'smach. I like many in the area fear for the locals, I can say that a large number of people will suffer. The locals can not control them selves when gambling and the casinos are amazing at removing money. They have Thai money lenders in them that will give big credit in exchange for bike, car and land papers.

 

I do not know if Newin has financed this casino, but the man has done much for Buriram. It has the best motor sport venue in Thailand and a very impressive football stadium. Whoever the owners/investors are they will do well from the casino.

 

The new casino may bring a boost to the local economy the new border crossing has recruited 50 staff in total. The Thai market traders should benefit from the bus loads of gamblers and when the immigration is open to foreigners the local resorts may benefit from farangs visiting/border runs.

 

But when I look at the village I live in it has suffered so much with gambling, I think many will loose there cars and farms and some as in our village will kill them selves due to there debts. 

[Black arab]

I was thinking along those lines what world class sports take place in burri ram.Serious question

[mick220675]

23 hours ago, Black arab said:

I was thinking along those lines what world class sports take place in burri ram.Serious question

World super bike was at Buriram this month. They also hold the Asian GT race at Buriram. If you are into motor sport Buriram is the best place in Thailand.

[khwaibah]

Bangkok Post BreakNews 17:05. Ombudsman petitioned over casino..........

[jimster]

On 3/26/2017 at 10:47 AM, Briggsy said:

You have made an incorrect assumption.

 

Look at the beneficial ownership of the casinos and where the profits end up and you will see that the Thai elites (well, some of them) are very content with the status quo.

 

Remember, all is rarely what it seems in Thailand or on its borders.

How so? If the casinos are located on Cambodian territory, that country benefits. Thailand loses. There's a lot of negative things that can be said about casinos (which I will not go into here), but when it comes to the positive aspects, Thailand can't possibly gain any financial benefits from casinos that are located outside of it's territory. Your strange back-to-front logic doesn't make any sense either.

[Briggsy]

1 hour ago, jimster said:

How so? If the casinos are located on Cambodian territory, that country benefits. Thailand loses. There's a lot of negative things that can be said about casinos (which I will not go into here), but when it comes to the positive aspects, Thailand can't possibly gain any financial benefits from casinos that are located outside of it's territory. Your strange back-to-front logic doesn't make any sense either.

You think Thai politicians and senior Thai military and police don't have substantial beneficial ownership and substantial share of earnings from casinos just over the Thai border? Just remember simply closing the border to Thai gamblers, stopping the free vans picking up Thai gamblers from all over Bangkok and the central region, just making negative noises about Thais visiting foreign casinos would close these casinos overnight.

 

Your post has erroneously assumed that all revenue from these casinos goes to the Cambodian Treasury. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rule of law and transparent corporate governance - Cambodia, he he, I don't think so.

[jimster]

2 hours ago, Briggsy said:

You think Thai politicians and senior Thai military and police don't have substantial beneficial ownership and substantial share of earnings from casinos just over the Thai border? Just remember simply closing the border to Thai gamblers, stopping the free vans picking up Thai gamblers from all over Bangkok and the central region, just making negative noises about Thais visiting foreign casinos would close these casinos overnight.

 

Your post has erroneously assumed that all revenue from these casinos goes to the Cambodian Treasury. Nothing could be further from the truth. Rule of law and transparent corporate governance - Cambodia, he he, I don't think so.

You may be right, but since the Casinos are located on Cambodian soil, their officials make the most from this arrangement. Thai officials have no control over what happens outside of their territory - even if they have substantial holdings in these places, if the Cambodian government wants to shut up shop, they can do so without giving notice. I think you are overestimating the amount of power Thai officials have over what happens on the other side of the border. Thai officials can't even get Cambodians to agree to allow their cars to enter Cambodia at most border crossings - that shows you how much power they have.