Want To Be Legalized, The Majority Of Thais Reject Casinos And Online Gambling

Photo illustration. (Doc. Pexels)

JAKARTA - Tourism is one of the main sectors in Thailand. With millions of foreign tourists coming every year, Thais are accustomed to interacting with people from various cultural backgrounds.

This month in order to maximize the potential of state revenue and tourism, there is a discourse by the Thai government to legalize casinos and online gambling. Apparently, what was discussed did not go smoothly. The majority of Thais oppose the government's plan to legalize the two.

According to Reuters on Sunday, 26 Jnauari, this rejection was based on a survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration on Monday and Tuesday that 69 percent of respondents opposed online gambling and 59 percent disagreed with the casino-enhanced entertainment complex. Only 29 percent supported these two things.

The Thai government earlier this year approved a bill that allows casinos in entertainment complexes and online gambling. Currently, legal gambling in Thailand is limited to state-run and lottery-run horse racing. However, illegal football and lottery and illegal gambling bets are very popular in the country, with a very large amount of money at stake.

Meanwhile, neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar have large casino complexes. The Thai government argues that the country has lost significant revenue and tourism potential.

One of the main legalization supporters of gambling is former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the father of current Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Thaksin said this month that legalization could generate revenues of up to 100 billion baht or around Rp. 48 trillion per year for the government.