Thailand’s new Prime Minister was asked by a member of the public during his TV and radio programme that is broadcast across the country about legalising casinos.
The Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej backed the idea of legalising casinos and the move immediately drew criticism from opponents, (of course) who fear legalised gambling will lead to greater social problems.
The viewer asked Mr Samak about the possibility of legalising casinos and the government's measures to crack down on football gambling among youngsters and students.
Football gambling amongst teenagers is rife. I know of many young teenagers who bet on football. The problem is they wouldn’t be old enough to bet anyway in a legalised casino.
Mr Samak said he supported the legalisation of casinos in the country because other countries in the region such as Malaysia and Singapore already had legally established casinos. ''If [existing casinos] are still illegal, we should legalise [them],'' he said without going into detail about how to put the change into practice.
I agree that Thailand looses so much money in taxes from gambling revenue. Many Thais make the not so long trip across the border to bet in the casinos established there and loose their cars and anything else they wish to stake.
I don’t agree with the ''If [existing casinos] are still illegal, we should legalise them” statement. I don’t know of any “real” state of the art casinos operating at the moment. If Thailand do legalise casinos it has to be done properly, professionally; like the way casinos are run in Europe, America and Australia. If the Prime Minister means some backyard SP taking bets I don’t agree at all.
I am the first to admit that gambling is a scourge on society that brings so much heartache and pain to so many families and this is coming from first hand experience. I was a pathetic looser always chasing a winner on the horses, the next blackjack or number on the roulette table. Gambling in Thailand is huge already. Having real legalised casinos won’t stop the card games and Hi/Lo games being played in the villages. It will be this way until the end of the Earth. But it will get the bigger gamblers and also bring in tax money like the government can only dream of.
Then if the government is smart, it can use this money for the people of Thailand and fund projects and so much more to make Thailand a better place.
The legalisation of casinos was an idea once floated in 2005 when the Thaksin government was in power. His government considered setting up new casino complexes in tourist areas. It was eventually forgotten about because of so much outcry.
Kraisak Choonhavan, a Democrat representative said legalising casinos could make people poorer as they could slip into heavy debt if they become addicted to gambling.
This is true but can and will happen without legalised gambling casinos. If a person wants to bet they can find a way to bet.
''If Mr Samak and his government really want to do it [legalise casinos], people must have a say whether they want it or not,'' said Mr Kraisak.
This I agree with 100%. Why doesn’t the government do a census? Put it to a vote for the Thai people to make up their minds and not some bureaucrats in Bangkok.
Sangsidh Piriyarangsan, an economics lecturer at Chandarakasem Rajabhat University, agreed with the legalisation of casinos if it was made transparently and with the consent of the people. Having casinos in the country will stop gamblers spending their money in neighbouring countries, he said.
''This will help prevent around 50 billion baht a year from flowing to gambling dens in our neighbouring countries,'' said Mr Sangsidh, who studied the underground economy.
This man above hits the nail on the head. It will stop gamblers spending 50 billion baht in neighbouring countries plus it will also create jobs for Thais and tourists will also spend lots more money per holiday.
I can imagine huge stage shows featuring Mor Lum concerts, Ladyboy shows such as Tiffiny’s, Scantily clad Thai dancing girls and so on. How much longer before it does happen? If it’s not this year, next year or five years I believe that before a decade comes around there will be casinos in Thailand in tourist areas; so why not get the ball rolling, now.
That’s my rant anyway.
Brunty
1 comment:
I would argue that casinos should be built in the poorer regions of the kingdom in order to spur the economy. Not in tourist areas like Phuket or Pattaya. However, the government must make sure that the poor locals would not bet their lifetime savings in the casinos.
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