‘More harm than good’ in online gambling push

Detractors have urged the government to carefully consider the risks and benefits of a proposal to legalize and regulate online gaming, warning that it could harm the nation more than nice.

Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong announced last Monday that the government would start conversations to legalize online gaming.

He urged officials from the relevant ministries to arrange their discussions and efforts because numerous constitutional amendments may be required to legalize online gambling.

A study on the proposal is expected to be finished in the upcoming few months, according to Mr. Prasert, who also serves as the Minister of Digital Economy and Society ( DES ).

The action comes in response to remarks made by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Chiang Rai next Sunday, where he suggested regulating online gambling was benefit both the economy and society rather than allowing it to run rampant.

Thaksin claimed that more than 2.5 to 4 million people in the nation gamble online each day.

He proposed regulating online gambling also to the lawful lottery, with evident laws, income, and an age limit of 20 years or older. He added that people who are addicted to online gaming may become referred for health care.

Mr. Prasert acknowledged that youth-related criminal behavior has been linked to a number of cultural issues, including online gaming.

He added that “mules” opening substitute bank accounts and enabling scams are directly related to the increase of online betting.

But, he said online gambling platforms handle significant financial transactions everyday, which, if taxed properly,” could benefit the economy”.

When questioned about Thaksin’s request to enforcing a minimum age restriction for those under the age of 20, Mr. Prasert claimed this matter had not yet been raised.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the DES Ministry and the Interior Ministry have been talking about legalizing online gambling for a while, according to Anutin Charnvirakul, the internal secretary.

The main point of these conversations is that if tax earnings can be collected and steps are taken to stop money laundering, according to Mr. Anutin, who is also a deputy prime minister.

He added that the Gambling Act is being amended to oversee all forms of gambling.

The DES Ministry and the Interior Ministry will work together to regulate both online and off-line playing in accordance with the revised rules.

More harm than good

Nualnoi Treerat, an academic at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Economics, reported to the Bangkok Post that the potential economic benefits of online gaming far outweigh the negative social effects it may have.

” In some states, casinos are legitimate, but online gaming remains illegal. In another, although online gaming has been legalised, illegitimate online gaming activities persist and continue to thrive”, she said.

” Online gaming is readily available. People who have an internet connection you bargain anywhere and anytime.

The exposure to gambling sites is frequently and quickly increased, according to Ms Nualnoi.

She added that some gamblers” hunt losses” by increasing their bets to recover past losses.

” Online gaming is extremely addictive,” she said”. No one can assure that the government will tackle the illegal gambling that continues to be conducted in Thailand if online gaming is legalized.

Ms. Nualnoi also urged the government to take action against call center connivance and those who open surrogate bank accounts, as these are frequently connected to money laundering through online gaming.

She questioned the government’s ability to stop minors from accessing online gaming websites.

May the authorities take action to address this matter seriously? ” she asked”. Legalizing online gambling may increase tax revenue, but is it worthwhile if it causes pervasive cultural issues?

According to her citations to data from the World Health Organization, gambling habit shares similarities with drug addiction, which makes treatment for gambling habit challenging.

She said the government’s public health system is now overstretched, with workers burdened by the care of patients suffering from various diseases.

” It is easier said than done,” she said, referring to Thaksin’s advice that those addicted to online gambling could be sent for health care.

Social effects

Thanakorn Komkris, secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, voiced worry over the negative effects of legalised online gaming.

Online gaming draws a sizable population of players who may perform 24 hours a day. But when the excitement stops, negative outcomes may follow.

Thaksin “only highlighted the hundreds of billions of ringgit in revenue that the government was generate,” said Mr. Thanakorn, but he did not address the social effects of legalizing online gambling.

Legalizing online gambling may have financial advantages, but it is possible to have social effects.

These include lost productivity and poverty, costs related to the criminal justice system, increased court cases, and higher care spending.

Mr. Thanakorn expressed hesitation about Thailand’s ability to take effective steps to stop online wagering from harming society.

” Legalising online gaming will only bring more visitors to the world of gambling”, he warned.

Illegal gambling still thrives

Also, legalised online gaming is unlikely to suppress the illegitimate online gambling actions that remain uncontrolled, Mr Thanakorn said.

” Some dealers in unlawful online gambling feel at ease working underground.

They simply give fees to the government so they can carry out other illegal activities. They don’t want to give fees or be controlled by the rules, “he said.

” Those who adhere to the laws governing legalized online gaming will feel impoverished as long as the government can’t tackle illegitimate online gaming operators who remain underground.”

” The government may break down on underwater providers to maintain fairness”, he added.

Pol Lt Col Krisanaphong Poothakool, an associate professor in crime and vice president at Rangsit University, said the social impacts of online wagering are immense, citing issues such as home problems, death, debt, robbery, and crime.

You those who are proposing this plan come up with strategies to address these problems and make up for the losses? he asked.

Additionally, Pol Lt Col Krisanaphong questioned whether the government could impose a 20-year maximum time as suggested by Thaksin.

” Age limits also may be enforced at entertainment spaces, let single on online gambling sites”, he noted.

The politicians must be held responsible and punished under the law, he said, “if this scheme of legalizing online betting is implemented and severe consequences arise.”

Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Bhakdinarinath, a deputy head of the Women’s Party, told the Bangkok Post that online gambling websites are often used by criminals to dirty income.

” Law enforcement agencies in Thailand are having a hard time keeping up with these scammers. He said that having better understanding and expertise in digital investigations and studies is essential to preventing cybercrime.

Additionally, Pol Maj Gen Supisarn urged banks and financial institutions to increase their efforts to prevent and check the use of proxy bank transactions by thieves for money laundering.

The government must make sure that the money used in gambling does not come from a source other than illegitimate, he said, if online gaming is to be decriminalized.

According to Pol Maj Gen Supisarn, the money made from online gaming should be used to improve how effectively law enforcement can investigate and prevent modern crimes.