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 debate regarding the push to legalize online gaming.
He requested officials from the ministries involved to organize their discussions and efforts because several constitutional amendments may be required to create online gaming legal.
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 last Sunday, where he suggested regulating online gambling could benefit both the economy and society more than allowing it to run under.
According to Thaksin, 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 gambling online has been linked to a number of cultural issues, including youth-related unlawful activity.
He added that the increase of “mules” opening substitute bank accounts and enabling scams is directly related to internet gambling.
But, he said online gambling platforms handle significant financial transactions everyday, which, if taxed properly,” could benefit the economy”.
Prasert: Linked to increase of scams
When asked about Thaksin’s plan to obstruct access to online gambling for those under the age of 20, Mr. Prasert claimed that this concern had not yet been raised.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the DES Ministry’s inside minister, reported that the DES Ministry and the Interior Ministry have been talking about legalizing online gambling for some time.
If tax income may be collected and steps are in place to prevent money laundering, Mr. Anutin, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said the main point of these conversations is that” we have no objection to online playing.”
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.
Nualnoi: Online gaming compulsive
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. Anyone with an internet connection you gamble anyplace, anytime.
The entry to gaming websites is frequently and significantly more likely to become addicted, according to Ms. Nualnoi.
She added that some gamblers” chase losses” by increasing their bets in an effort to recover past losses.
” Online gaming is extremely addicting,” she said”. No one can ensure that Thailand’s government may address the illegal gambling that still exists 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 problem seriously? ” she asked”. Is legalizing online gambling a good idea if it causes pervasive cultural issues? It may increase tax revenue.
According to her citing data from the World Health Organization, she said that because gaming addiction shares similarities with drug addiction, treatment for gambling addiction is especially 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 medical treatment.
Thanakorn: Social effect a priority
Social effect
Thanakorn Komkris, secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, voiced worry over the negative effects of legalised online gaming.
A large number of players who can play online 24/7 are drawn to the sport. But when the excitement stops, severe outcomes may follow.
The government should have only focused on the hundreds of billions of ringgit in profits, but Thaksin did not address the social effects of legalizing online gambling, according to Mr. Thanakorn.
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 concern about Thailand’s ability to take effective steps to reduce the negative effects of online gaming.
” Legalising online gaming will only bring more visitors to the world of gambling”, he warned.
Supisarn: Bankers must do more
Illegal gambling still thrives
Also, legalised online betting is unlikely to suppress the illegitimate online gambling actions that remain illegal, Mr Thanakorn said.
” Many dealers in illegitimate online gambling feel at ease working underwater.
They simply give fees to the government so they can carry out other illegal activities. They don’t want to spend fees or be controlled by the rules, “he said.
” Those who adhere to the laws governing legalized online gaming will feel depressed as long as the government can’t stop the government from pursuing illegal online gaming providers who continue to exist in the shadows.”
” 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.
Can those who are proposing this policy 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 minimum age as suggested by Thaksin.
” Age restrictions still cannot be enforced at entertainment venues, let alone on online gambling sites”, he noted.
The policymakers must be held accountable and punished under the law, he said, “if this policy of legalizing online gambling is implemented and adverse consequences occur.”
Pol Maj Gen Supisarn Bhakdinarinath, a deputy leader of the People’s Party, told the Bangkok Post that online gambling platforms are often used by criminals to launder money.
” These cybercriminals are putting pressure on Thai law enforcement to keep up.” He said that having better understanding and skills in digital forensics and investigations is essential to preventing cybercrime.
Additionally, Pol Maj Gen Supisarn urged banks and financial institutions to increase their efforts to prevent and monitor the use of proxy bank accounts by money-laundering criminals.
The government must make sure that the money used in gambling does not come from a source other than illegal, he said, if online gambling is to be decriminalized.
According to Pol Maj Gen Supisarn, the revenue generated from online gambling should be used to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in preventing and investigating digital crimes.