Thailand In Danger Of Increasing Gambling With New Reforms

Thailand’s Stop Gambling Foundation (SGF), the group opposed to legalising gambling in the country have said that there is a danger that the government could increase both legalised gambling and also illegal gambling.

The Secretary of the group said that by bringing in legislation to allow for gambling venues those not allowed to gamble will still use illegal gambling dens and so just increase gambling within the country.

Thanakorn Komkris, secretary of the SGF said: “Legalising gambling is not straightforward. Legal casinos need rigorous standards and require supervision and regulation. When a gambling den is brought in line with such standards, some people will be denied access. As a result, they will return to illegal venues. Thailand might end up having both legal and illegal gambling dens which would be worse than now.”

He went on to say, “For example, cockfighting and bullfighting dens have already been legalised, but there are still many illegal events held across the country, people who are pushing for the legalisation of gambling are naive to believe that illegal gambling dens will be eradicated overnight.”

Mr Komkris said the government need to set up a “Gambling Problem Management Centre”, to help review the impact increasing legal gambling would have on the country.