Almost 70 percent of Thai people reject the government’s plan to legalize casinos and online gambling, according to a survey.
A recent survey reveals strong public opposition in Thailand to the government's proposal to legalize casinos and online gambling, despite official claims that such a move would stimulate tourism and investment.
The survey, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA), polled 1,310 people on January 20 and January 21. The results showed that 69% of respondents opposed online gambling, while 59% disapproved of the proposed entertainment complexes with casinos. Only 29% of those surveyed expressed support for both initiatives.
The survey results came around a week after the government approved a draft law that would permit casinos within entertainment complexes and legalize online gambling platforms.
Currently, legal gambling in Thailand is limited to state-run horse races and the national lottery. However, underground gambling operations, including illegal lotteries and widespread soccer betting, are prevalent, involving substantial financial transactions and indicating a significant existing demand for gambling activities.
This underground market is estimated to involve billions of baht annually, a factor cited by proponents of legalization who argue that regulated gambling could bring these funds into the formal economy and generate substantial tax revenue. The government's push for legalized gambling is partly motivated by the success of neighboring countries. Giant players in the integrated resort industry have also expressed interest in building their facilities should the measure be enacted into law.
Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar all host large-scale casino complexes, attracting tourists and generating significant revenue. The Thai government argues that by maintaining its restrictive stance, the nation is missing out on substantial economic opportunities and failing to fully capitalize on its tourism potential. Some reports suggest that Thailand loses billions of baht annually to these neighboring countries due to Thais crossing the border to gamble.
A prominent supporter of gambling legalization is former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Thaksin has publicly stated that legalization could generate as much as 100 billion baht ($3 billion USD) annually for the government. This figure is based on projections of tax revenue and increased tourism spending.
However, opponents raised concerns about the potential social costs of expanded gambling access, including problem gambling, addiction, and associated crime. The debate also touches on cultural and religious sensitivities within Thai society, where Buddhism, which generally discourages gambling, is the dominant religion.’
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