No bets on wiping out gambling

GAMBLING cannot be wiped out. An established academic stated that it is better to legalise and regulate the industry, instead of attempting to stamp it out.

Research into gambling in Thailand was conducted by Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, director of Chandrakasem Rajabhat University’s PhD Programme in Good Governance. The conclusion pointed towards the business growing stronger, as opposed to being eradicated.

There have been times when casinos have had to close temporarily in the face of adversity; however they always reopen. Mr Sungsidh said his research revealed there are more than 170 casinos in Bangkok. Ten are large and permanent, 60 are small and medium-sized, while more than 100 are mobile outfits. Between 180 and 200 billion baht changes hands in Bangkok dens annually.

Casino owners make 38-40 billion baht in profit and pay 5-20% of their illegal gains, or 2-8 billion baht, as bribes. Throughout Thailand, an estimated 640-820 billion baht changes hands in the industry each year with profits put at around 90 billion baht.

Admittedly, within the gambling industry, there could be thousands of illegal gambling operations operating from within small dens. A way around this would be for the Government to convince police not to accept bribes. Legalizing casinos would also be another resolution which would break down illegal dens.
Mr Sungsidh said: “Illegal casinos will continue to exist. Big casinos may be closed at the moment but secret gambling dens are still allowed to operate every day. Whenever police take action, casinos will be closed for a while but everything will be the same afterwards.”

Bangkok police sources have revealed that some casinos cater exclusively to rich gamblers. The size of the bribes reflects on their casino.
“Gambling dens at markets in Don Muang, Bang Khen and Saphan Mai areas receive mainly vendors, general people, housewives and retired government officials,” the source said. “They are medium-sized gambling dens and bet sizes are six-digit.

“Casinos in inner areas in Phaya Thai and Ratchathewi districts are big and occupy whole buildings. “Well-known casinos that police have searched include that of Jeh Phlia Kingphet, while access to the Tao Pun casino in Bang Sue is difficult.”
The source said there are 30-40 medium and large-scale casinos in Bangkok which cannot be suppressed.

Bribes reach officers at all levels; senior officers often share their bribes with their subordinates, according to a source. If these businesses were stamped out, it would also cut off these bribes too. The source said there was no genuine attempt to suppress these businesses.

“A big casino in the Thon Buri area belongs to a man in power who plans to attack [his competitors] with an anti-casino campaign,” the source said.
Such campaigns are short-lived and fizzle out when political interest fades. The gambling dens then resume business as usual, the source said. If gambling was legalized, then it would be the illegal dens that would soon fizzle out.