Somsak Thepsutin, Deputy Prime Minister’s proposal to legalize online gambling to increase state revenue has drawn criticism from those who think it will be difficult to control and lead to a number of social issues.
Following studies that eight officers were discovered to be involved in online gaming activities, which resulted in crime authorities raiding 30 places in six regions on September 25, Mr. Somsak, who oversees the Justice Ministry, made the remarks.
They included five residences owned by Surachate” Big Joke” Hakparn, the sheriff federal police chief.
The targets were those who were reportedly a part of the” Betflix” online gaming system. The majority of gambling methods are prohibited in Thailand.
He advocated for the legalization of more forms of gambling, such as basketball. He claimed that as of right now, betting taxes do not benefit the state or the general public.
Express income would rise if these were taxed similarly to other gambling activities that the Interior Ministry has authorized, such as copper and cockfighting.
He promised to speak with the Strategic Transformation Office about the matter and perhaps submit a suggestion to the case.
He claims that online gaming involves enormous sums of money. According to the deputy prime minister, the government could levy taxes and use the proceeds to aid the elder, impoverished, and those with disabilities.
Somsak Thepsutin, Deputy Prime Minister
Researchers disagree
Finance expert Visanu Vongsinsirikul told the Bangkok Post that individuals can gamble on programs, websites, smart telephones, or computers because the online unites all types of gambling.
The issue is how to safeguard kids and teenagers from virtual gaming. It’s possible that even individuals will develop an addiction to it.
According to Mr. Visanu, online gaming is simple to access and allows players to gamble whenever and wherever they want.
The issue is distinct from one involving the legalization of games. It is challenging to manage or reduce the number of gamblers because the online program combines all types of betting and allows for constant gambling.
It will not only cause people to become more dependent on playing, but it is also connected to various issues like money laundering and credit card fraud, he claimed.
The last to be legalized may remain online gaming. Who may arrest you if you even gamble in your home? ‘ He said.
According to Mr. Visanu, if the government wants to legalize online gambling in order to make money off of it, it may permit businesses running online gaming websites to get established in the nation legally.
For instance, Poi Pet in Cambodia is the source of the majority of online casino game. Money will still be in the hands of the major organization in Cambodia if a bookmaker is permitted to conduct business legally in Thailand, he claimed.
Online gaming, he continued, is only permitted in a few nations. While online basketball betting is the only legal form of online wagering in Singapore, it is only permitted in a few states in the US.
Virtual playing legalization should be carefully thought out. It should be the next choice because it is challenging to regulate and establish standards for, according to Mr. Visanu.
According to Nonarit Bisonyabut, a senior research fellow at the Thailand Development Research Institute, there are numerous issues with gaming, according to The Bangkok Post.
Legalizing gaming won’t make societal issues go away, and it’s not a solution.
He stated that if gambling were to become legal, it should only be permitted on a small size, such as by opening casinos in each region with strict testing standards and with the goal of promoting tourism.
According to Mr. Nonarit, the scope of legalized gambling in some nations is also small. For instance, he said that the maximum amount of money bet on sports betting is US$ 1, 000 ( 37 000 ringgit ) per game.
However, since some Thais you gamble on anything, this cannot be used in Thailand. A comprehensive strategy may be launched to combat widespread gaming, he said.
” Source of various problems” is a nonarit.
Not for the danger
The Stop Gambling Network’s chairman, Thanakorn Khomkris, claimed that legalizing gambling is simpler said than done.
According to him, the government should prioritize the rigid enforcement of the law against significant illegitimate gambling operators and alter laws to tighten regulation of gambling.
He claimed that a number of organizations, including the Interior Ministry, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office, are involved in dealing with playing.
However, each of them just touches on the subject, and no company is taking the initiative or playing a significant part in resolving the issue, according to Mr. Thanakorn.
He agreed that legalizing online gambling would be more detrimental than beneficial, claiming that it is easier for people to access and engage in constant playing and is more challenging to regulate than onsite gambling.
According to him, legalized gambling will cause more interpersonal issues, crime, and corruption even though the government may be able to collect more taxes from it.
It is not worth the risk to legalize playing. According to Mr. Thanakorn, Thailand does reduce Chinese tourists as the Chinese government discourages its citizens from traveling to nations where casinos are legal.
He claimed that the Chinese government intends to transform Macau, a well-known gaming gateway, into an innovative and creative hub because it views gambling as an opportunity for corruption.
The plan to legalize gambling in Thailand goes against the worldwide trend of artistic company, according to Mr. Thanakorn.
Thanakorn: ‘Not for the danger’
Virtual gambling operators have paid payments to some officers offices, according to a supply at the Central Investigation Bureau, which has made it more common.
According to the cause, some authorities are in favor of legalizing online gambling and allowing legal gambling dens so that taxes can be collected and used to increase state coffers rather than the exchange of money.
Even though online gaming is legalized, the supply continued, other types of illegal gambling still exist, and the government must continue to work to reduce them.
Prior to now, the Bhumjaithai Party urged the government to expedite its constitutional casino task because it might help combat fraud, illegal online gaming, and betting dens.
Saritpong Kiewkhong, a Bhumjaithai MP, expressed his desire for games to be legalized in order to combat fraud and generate income.
He claimed that numerous police and government employees who take advantage of the legal loopholes have received kickbacks from improper casino operators.
Legalizing gambling entails that both online and physical gambling may be subject to government scrutiny.
Due to their attractive potential, a special House committee developed its study in January on the viability of constructing entertainment complexes, including legitimate casinos.
Such a diverse had cost US$ 8 billion, or 280 billion ringgit, according to the research. To construct and use 30, 000 people, it may get five years.
According to the record, one could be constructed in any of the 22 major tourist destinations, including Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Additionally, it might be situated in frontier provinces with continuous immigration roadblocks, such as Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Ching Rai, and Phayao, or within a 100-kilometer spoke of an international airports.
It stated that eight different types of gambling may be allowed, including virtual casinos, wagering on foreign exchange rates and the stock exchange score, and placing bets on sporting events.