The government has been urged to open the first-ever casino on Thai soil that would be reserved exclusively for foreigners.
The casino-entertainment complex would be opened in Hat Yai to boost tourism and only foreigners would be allowed into the premises initially.
The plan to open casinos in Thailand has raised public concern, as many Thais are addicted to gambling.
See: Thailand's Dangerous Gambling Addiction
In a 2021 opinion poll in Thailand, 46.51% of respondents opposed the legalization of gambling on moral and criminal grounds, while 21.25% supported it.
See: Thailand wants to legalize casinos despite public disapproval
So opening a casino reserved exclusively for foreigners at first could reassure public opinion.
This suggestion was made by Sitthipong Sitthiphataraprabha, chairman of the Hat Yai-Songkhla Hotel Association, who expressed support for the opening of such a complex, saying it would boost the economy.
“The advantage of Hat Yat district in Songkhla is that it is located close to a neighboring country (Malaysia).
If a legal casino is to be opened, illegal online gambling should not be allowed to exist so that taxes can be properly collected from legal casinos.
However, measures must be developed to regulate the complex to avoid any negative social impact,” Mr. Sitthipong said.
However, given that legalizing casinos still faces some opposition, the government should focus on promoting the resort as a tourist attraction.
Initially, only foreigners would be allowed into the complex so that impacts or revenues could be assessed first, he suggested.
The next step would be for the government to gather information on the number of Thais visiting casinos abroad and the money they spend there before deciding whether to allow Thais into casinos there, he added.
Mr. Sitthipong says the complex would boost tourism as it will also include amusement parks, hotels and restaurants.
Those who do not want to enter the casino can visit other attractions in and around the complex, he said.
“It is time for Thailand to legalize casinos.
Neighboring countries already have casinos, and many of their customers are Thai,” he said.
Meanwhile, the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) on Friday expressed concern over the report prepared by a House of Representatives special committee studying the feasibility of opening entertainment complexes and casinos.
The report was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday, March 28.
See: Thailand takes first step towards legalizing casinos
Rangsiman Rome, a member of the House committee and MFP party list, said the study still lacked information regarding measures to combat online gambling, money laundering and shady businesses.
"Gambling-related problems persist, such as online gambling or gambling houses that are operated illegally in the provinces," Rangsiman said.
"I don't think opening such an entertainment complex will provide a solution to the problems.
No measures have been designed to prevent these problems.
The report did not address the issues, but the House of Representatives approved it,” Mr. Rangsiman said.
He said the MFP had no objection to legalizing casinos, but that the report was not complete.
Kosol Pattama, Pheu Thai MP for Nakhon Ratchasima, said Pheu Thai MPs are expected to submit a bill on the project during the next session, which runs from July 3 to October 30.
He added that MPs from other parties should also propose similar bills in parliament.
General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said he agreed with the plan, but it must be implemented in accordance with the law.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, who chairs the parliamentary committee studying the issue, said earlier that the study found such entertainment complexes would have economic benefits.
The parliamentary committee also examined similar models in Singapore and the United States and found that no problems resulted, he added.
See also:
Thai police target gambling sites that put serial killer in debt
Thai woman wins 12 million baht in lottery, loses it all gambling
Online Baccarat: Thailand's Deadliest Card Game
Source: Bangkok Post
Prepare your trip to Thailand
Book bus, train, or boat in Thailand
Manage your money while traveling with Wise
If our news, tourist information, or cultural content has been useful to you and you'd like to thank us:
You can follow us on:
Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google News
Or install our app:
Install the Toute la Thaïlande app on your smartphone
⚠️ Cryptocurrencies involve risks: Invest only what you are willing to lose.
2 comments
It seems to me that it is becoming a real tangle as this "casino" issue evolves and this project changes face every week...
A scenario that goes from the pure and simple authorization of casinos as they exist in neighboring Asian countries, in the United States and in many other Western countries and tax havens, with more or less strict or libertarian regulations depending on the laws in force, to the prohibition for Thais to frequent establishments legally established in their own country and for whom nothing will change, those who are already clandestinely addicted to games of chance, crossing the borders of neighboring countries...
Furthermore, it is currently impossible to predict and extrapolate the consequences of these intramural casinos on the irresponsible behavior of certain Thai men and women who are ready to squander their meager savings of several years by risking them gambling and losing everything in a few hours!!!
It is likely that suicide statistics could increase significantly in extreme cases of despair and shame in front of family, friends...
And if one day these "farang" casinos open to Thais, shouldn't they be reserved for the very wealthy Thais, with a bank account certificate provided as proof, credited with a minimum of 100 million baht, approximately 2.5 million euros.
This would already prevent small players from losing everything in a very short time and sinking into poverty and social and economic stagnation.
When the authorities are looking at all costs for ways to "make money" quickly and not necessarily well, it is necessary to protect ourselves from the "boomerang" effects that certain proposed solutions, easy and financially attractive in the short term, risk generating in the medium and long term...
Always wanting more can have the opposite effect and lead to deflation!!!
Thais play online (10% are addicted).
They don't wait for casinos.