Thailand government seeks measures to tackle the problems of illegal gambling.

[TimeTeller]

If someone is operating an illegal casino despite the ban, then you can assume that he'll be having powerful connections (either with the politicians or with the police officials). Corruption is very prevalent in Asian countries (perhaps with the exception of Japan and Singapore), and Thailand is no different. The only outcome from this ban is going to be the shift of gambling industry from legal or semi-legal sector to the underground sector. The ordinary gamblers will face an increased risk of becoming victims of fraud, and the government will lose valuable tax revenue.

Yes, when the government intervenes in the relations of adults, it always only hurts. If a person is considered mentally healthy, then he is free to decide where and how to spend his money. All these regulations and prohibitions waste taxpayers' resources and squeeze honest citizens into semi-criminal and criminal spheres.

I have to agree that corruption is rampant in most Asian countries.
You can easily bribe these government officials so you can go around the policies.
Their government may want to end this illegal gambling, but there are still officials that can be bribed.
And I don't think, they will be successful in tackling this problem.
They need to clean first the line up of their government officials.

[Sithara007]

Yes, when the government intervenes in the relations of adults, it always only hurts. If a person is considered mentally healthy, then he is free to decide where and how to spend his money. All these regulations and prohibitions waste taxpayers' resources and squeeze honest citizens into semi-criminal and criminal spheres.

Governments around the world like to show off their power and dominate their citizens by banning anything they don't like. Recently in India, the government has proposed to ban cryptocurrency, giving the flimsiest of the excuses. The reason is that they are afraid that popularity of cryptocurrency will weaken their control of the population. In the third world countries, many of the regimes would like to keep the populations under complete control, and that's when we see bans like the one for gambling which we have seen in Thailand.

[suzanne5223]

Yes, they will be hunted down by the government if they don't want to follow what's with the law says about their operation. I've understood why some of them don't want to cooperate and keeps on remaining illegal because of the tax and possible under the table money that the corrupt officials would ask them. Since it is related to gambling, it's not hidden anymore that there really are people who would milk them because they knew it that profits in gambling for the operators are quite good.

If someone is operating an illegal casino despite the ban, then you can assume that he'll be having powerful connections (either with the politicians or with the police officials). Corruption is very prevalent in Asian countries (perhaps with the exception of Japan and Singapore), and Thailand is no different. The only outcome from this ban is going to be the shift of gambling industry from legal or semi-legal sector to the underground sector. The ordinary gamblers will face an increased risk of becoming victims of fraud, and the government will lose valuable tax revenue.

The illegal casino operator having a powerful connection within the politician or police is not what's important footing what the OP said, I think keeping the people safe and also curb the spread of the virus (Covid-19) which is the reason why the Thailand government taking drastic measure to tackle illegal gambling.
Corruption prevalent in Asian countries because their government usually milk themself using the public fund but not in Asia alone it happens in every other country.

[Pamadar]

Yes, when the government intervenes in the relations of adults, it always only hurts. If a person is considered mentally healthy, then he is free to decide where and how to spend his money. All these regulations and prohibitions waste taxpayers' resources and squeeze honest citizens into semi-criminal and criminal spheres.

Governments around the world like to show off their power and dominate their citizens by banning anything they don't like. Recently in India, the government has proposed to ban cryptocurrency, giving the flimsiest of the excuses. The reason is that they are afraid that popularity of cryptocurrency will weaken their control of the population. In the third world countries, many of the regimes would like to keep the populations under complete control, and that's when we see bans like the one for gambling which we have seen in Thailand.

Government will do everything behind their power to make sure that they are in full control.

It's always that way, they are keeping their power as they don't want to see that their citizens are doing something behind them, in the  case of illegal gambling, it's better to sit upon and find whatever suitable solutions for best benefits by both the government and the people behind this business instead of suppressing why not try to find the proper way to both have compensation in return.

[molsewid]

If someone is operating an illegal casino despite the ban, then you can assume that he'll be having powerful connections (either with the politicians or with the police officials). Corruption is very prevalent in Asian countries (perhaps with the exception of Japan and Singapore), and Thailand is no different. The only outcome from this ban is going to be the shift of gambling industry from legal or semi-legal sector to the underground sector. The ordinary gamblers will face an increased risk of becoming victims of fraud, and the government will lose valuable tax revenue.

Here in our country some of the gambling owners if not a politics, a government official or a relatives of potician or have a friend and family member working on a government so even if the gambling related business were prohibited they can still operated. So far since the pandemic hitted our country there are still few casinos are opearted and occupied a 50% capacity but here we have a much prohibited gambling which is a cockfighting which gathered people but luckily they have found a new way to gamble via online.

[Text]

Here in our country some of the gambling owners if not a politics, a government official or a relatives of potician or have a friend and family member working on a government so even if the gambling related business were prohibited they can still operated. So far since the pandemic hitted our country there are still few casinos are opearted and occupied a 50% capacity but here we have a much prohibited gambling which is a cockfighting which gathered people but luckily they have found a new way to gamble via online.

Prohibited gambling cannot be stopped or eliminated because there are also really reprehensible and addictive followers.  Even though they know it is forbidden, they still go ahead.  And these other leaders in their area, even though they know it is forbidden, they still consent.  Officials who know nothing about the running of the town, but just sit in the office and receive a salary.  I also don't understand why they are still voting for people like this who are running in elections, they are doing nothing.  It should be reported to a higher authority.

[KTChampions]

Yes, when the government intervenes in the relations of adults, it always only hurts. If a person is considered mentally healthy, then he is free to decide where and how to spend his money. All these regulations and prohibitions waste taxpayers' resources and squeeze honest citizens into semi-criminal and criminal spheres.

I have to agree that corruption is rampant in most Asian countries.
You can easily bribe these government officials so you can go around the policies.
Their government may want to end this illegal gambling, but there are still officials that can be bribed.
And I don't think, they will be successful in tackling this problem.
They need to clean first the line up of their government officials.

Where there is a state, there is corruption (in civilized countries it just looks more decent). So if we want to get to the root causes and eliminate them, then we must reduce the power of the state and officials. I see no reason why the state should decide for me (an adult and capable) whether I can gamble or not.

[RealMalatesta]

What do you think ?
Should they make reforms before shutting down the whole thing ? I think this could benefit people and the government as a whole.

I never really understood why some casinos are illegal and some are legal. Do not get me wrong, I know the laws, for example starting a casino right in front of New York is illegal, so they hide it, but we all know they are there, does anyone believe that there are zero illegal casinos in New York? But in Las Vegas you do it openly and do even commercials and advertisements of it as well, get famous people to appear there with money, do shows, and many other stuff. Why do we have that kind of difference?

If casino is something bad, then ban it on Las Vegas, if casino is allowed, then allow it on New York, if some sportsbooks in some nations are legal, why not dice? If dice is banned, why not sportsbooks? That is why I do not get semi-accepted casino world, some are legal and some are not, because of some weird way to limit what people gamble, that makes no sense.

[Silberman]

Would be much easier just to make gambling legal, that way you will avoid all the illegal gambling problems and you have more supervision.
You will also avoid money laundering that way.

Not only it will be many times more easier they will get some taxes out of gambling which are so needed during this time, due to the pandemic and the economic effects that it brought governments are facing a lot of trouble, they should not be wasting their time trying to apply such restrictions especially against a hobby like gambling that is enjoyed by the majority of people without any repercussions, and for the few that suffer from a gambling disorder they can use part of the money they get in taxes to help them to overcome those problems.

If our business is legal, we don't have to worry about the government because they will protect us from the corrupt officials who want to ask for the "security money." By having legal gambling, it can also help the government get additional income to help the country's economy, which can also help all people in this pandemic. But still, it is hard to eliminate illegal gambling because many people are not telling the officials where that place is. They don't want to tell because they can bond with the government's regulation, and they need to pay the taxes. The owner of illegal gambling doesn't want to pay on that taxes, so they don't want to cooperate with the government and hide their business.

Corruption in some countries is endemic even if gambling was allowed and you had everything in order it is not rare for public officials to show up and ask for a bribe and if you refuse then they can make your life very difficult or even revoke your casino license, but the case of Thailand is very unique they should be trying to legalize those illegal casinos instead of closing them down so they can keep generating jobs and they get taxes out of them, to try to outright close them is not a good idea as most likely the owners will open a new one just hours after they close one of those illegal casinos.

[btc78]

What do you think ?
Should they make reforms before shutting down the whole thing ? I think this could benefit people and the government as a whole.

I never really understood why some casinos are illegal and some are legal. Do not get me wrong, I know the laws, for example starting a casino right in front of New York is illegal, so they hide it, but we all know they are there, does anyone believe that there are zero illegal casinos in New York? But in Las Vegas you do it openly and do even commercials and advertisements of it as well, get famous people to appear there with money, do shows, and many other stuff. Why do we have that kind of difference?

If casino is something bad, then ban it on Las Vegas, if casino is allowed, then allow it on New York, if some sportsbooks in some nations are legal, why not dice? If dice is banned, why not sportsbooks? That is why I do not get semi-accepted casino world, some are legal and some are not, because of some weird way to limit what people gamble, that makes no sense.

I get your Point mate but Banning a casino does not happening in favor of others , Like in countries that not allowed gambling they are banning all casinos but yet there are operations happening behind their back .

also in Las vegas banned casinos has cases for sure and those you mentioned being illegal are those who wanted to escape from paying taxes and other requirements of payments.

Well that's My views in this issue .

[maydna]

Would be much easier just to make gambling legal, that way you will avoid all the illegal gambling problems and you have more supervision.
You will also avoid money laundering that way.

Not only it will be many times more easier they will get some taxes out of gambling which are so needed during this time, due to the pandemic and the economic effects that it brought governments are facing a lot of trouble, they should not be wasting their time trying to apply such restrictions especially against a hobby like gambling that is enjoyed by the majority of people without any repercussions, and for the few that suffer from a gambling disorder they can use part of the money they get in taxes to help them to overcome those problems.

If our business is legal, we don't have to worry about the government because they will protect us from the corrupt officials who want to ask for the "security money." By having legal gambling, it can also help the government get additional income to help the country's economy, which can also help all people in this pandemic. But still, it is hard to eliminate illegal gambling because many people are not telling the officials where that place is. They don't want to tell because they can bond with the government's regulation, and they need to pay the taxes. The owner of illegal gambling doesn't want to pay on that taxes, so they don't want to cooperate with the government and hide their business.

Corruption in some countries is endemic even if gambling was allowed and you had everything in order it is not rare for public officials to show up and ask for a bribe and if you refuse then they can make your life very difficult or even revoke your casino license, but the case of Thailand is very unique they should be trying to legalize those illegal casinos instead of closing them down so they can keep generating jobs and they get taxes out of them, to try to outright close them is not a good idea as most likely the owners will open a new one just hours after they close one of those illegal casinos.

If they legalize the illegal casino, it will give way for that casino to stay away from the corrupt officials trying to ask about the money. If that official still trying to do that, they can report it to the government, and the government will protect them as the casino give big support in the taxes. Perhaps that will be the way in Thailand to reduce corruption as the government will strictly protect their legal business. The government doesn't want to lose their potential taxes from the casino to protect it from corrupt officials. The casino itself can feel safe from the corrupt officials trying to ask for the money.

[mindrust]

Yes, when the government intervenes in the relations of adults, it always only hurts. If a person is considered mentally healthy, then he is free to decide where and how to spend his money. All these regulations and prohibitions waste taxpayers' resources and squeeze honest citizens into semi-criminal and criminal spheres.

Governments around the world like to show off their power and dominate their citizens by banning anything they don't like. Recently in India, the government has proposed to ban cryptocurrency, giving the flimsiest of the excuses. The reason is that they are afraid that popularity of cryptocurrency will weaken their control of the population. In the third world countries, many of the regimes would like to keep the populations under complete control, and that's when we see bans like the one for gambling which we have seen in Thailand.

Governments take their power from their citizens. If the citizens don't like these decisions that their government has made, then they should be voting for another one in the next elections. I am not sure how it works in India though. Is there a democracy? I don't really know. If voting won't work then it is probably better to leave that country.

[freedomgo]

Yes, when the government intervenes in the relations of adults, it always only hurts. If a person is considered mentally healthy, then he is free to decide where and how to spend his money. All these regulations and prohibitions waste taxpayers' resources and squeeze honest citizens into semi-criminal and criminal spheres.

Governments around the world like to show off their power and dominate their citizens by banning anything they don't like. Recently in India, the government has proposed to ban cryptocurrency, giving the flimsiest of the excuses. The reason is that they are afraid that popularity of cryptocurrency will weaken their control of the population. In the third world countries, many of the regimes would like to keep the populations under complete control, and that's when we see bans like the one for gambling which we have seen in Thailand.

Governments take their power from their citizens. If the citizens don't like these decisions that their government has made, then they should be voting for another one in the next elections. I am not sure how it works in India though. Is there a democracy? I don't really know. If voting won't work then it is probably better to leave that country.

We people can protest if they ban something that would affect a lot of people's interest, however, for gambling or crypto, I think there are only few people who are doing this and even if we make a protest, we are just a small voice that the government can't hear.

I would understand banning gambling, but crypto, I think that's too much as crypto does not make people loss money, it even give an opportunity to transact fast online in different part of the world, banning crypto is like letting these corrupt businessmen to continue to milk money from the people.

[Sithara007]

Governments take their power from their citizens. If the citizens don't like these decisions that their government has made, then they should be voting for another one in the next elections. I am not sure how it works in India though. Is there a democracy? I don't really know. If voting won't work then it is probably better to leave that country.

On paper India is a democracy. But democracy can be a burden, when the majority of the population is illiterate and can be manipulated with ease. The government first proposed a blanket ban on cryptocurrency ownership a few months ago. The cryptocurrency users immediately took out a massive campaign in the social media against the decision. The government supporters responded by starting their own social media campaign, painting cryptocurrency as something that is exclusively used by the criminals and the tax evaders.

[romero121]

Governments take their power from their citizens. If the citizens don't like these decisions that their government has made, then they should be voting for another one in the next elections. I am not sure how it works in India though. Is there a democracy? I don't really know. If voting won't work then it is probably better to leave that country.

On paper India is a democracy. But democracy can be a burden, when the majority of the population is illiterate and can be manipulated with ease. The government first proposed a blanket ban on cryptocurrency ownership a few months ago. The cryptocurrency users immediately took out a massive campaign in the social media against the decision. The government supporters responded by starting their own social media campaign, painting cryptocurrency as something that is exclusively used by the criminals and the tax evaders.

Not only in India, same seems to be the problem with most of the countries that state themselves democratic. As in the above post only education can help providing true meaning for a democratic country. When majority of the population are illiterate governments will easily manipulate the outcome.

[Fredomago]

On paper India is a democracy. But democracy can be a burden, when the majority of the population is illiterate and can be manipulated with ease. The government first proposed a blanket ban on cryptocurrency ownership a few months ago. The cryptocurrency users immediately took out a massive campaign in the social media against the decision. The government supporters responded by starting their own social media campaign, painting cryptocurrency as something that is exclusively used by the criminals and the tax evaders.

Not only in India, same seems to be the problem with most of the countries that state themselves democratic. As in the above post only education can help providing true meaning for a democratic country. When majority of the population are illiterate governments will easily manipulate the outcome.

Reality hurts, as there are countries who called themselves democratic but since that their citizens are illeterate majority are being manipulated by the government.

It's sad true that government are capable of doing things like this, taking advantage of their advancement in terms of technology and
knowlegdes without people awarenes, they manage to completely manipulates and control things according to how they wanted it to be.

[Vishnu.Reang]

Not only in India, same seems to be the problem with most of the countries that state themselves democratic. As in the above post only education can help providing true meaning for a democratic country. When majority of the population are illiterate governments will easily manipulate the outcome.

This is exactly the reason why poor countries remain poor, despite being resource rich. In most of the developed nations, people cast their votes on the basis of caste, religion and ethnicity. There may be better candidates, but they will only vote for their own group. In modern world, there is no point in banning hobbies such as gambling. With so many online gambling sites around, it is simply impossible to implement the ban. But the government don't care and neither do the people who voted for them.

[Silberman]

Yes, when the government intervenes in the relations of adults, it always only hurts. If a person is considered mentally healthy, then he is free to decide where and how to spend his money. All these regulations and prohibitions waste taxpayers' resources and squeeze honest citizens into semi-criminal and criminal spheres.

Governments around the world like to show off their power and dominate their citizens by banning anything they don't like. Recently in India, the government has proposed to ban cryptocurrency, giving the flimsiest of the excuses. The reason is that they are afraid that popularity of cryptocurrency will weaken their control of the population. In the third world countries, many of the regimes would like to keep the populations under complete control, and that's when we see bans like the one for gambling which we have seen in Thailand.

Governments take their power from their citizens. If the citizens don't like these decisions that their government has made, then they should be voting for another one in the next elections. I am not sure how it works in India though. Is there a democracy? I don't really know. If voting won't work then it is probably better to leave that country.

Leaving is never an easy choice, after all most people have family and jobs they cannot leave and may have even real estate they cannot get rid off that easily, also you need money for that and not everyone can just move at the first sign of something wrong in the country, so for the most part people have to put with whatever the government is doing regardless of how bad it could be, however while a banning of cryptocurrencies could be inevitable in some countries there will always be countries where it is legal and you could open an account there and deposit your fiat in case you want to sell.

[Sithara007]

Leaving is never an easy choice, after all most people have family and jobs they cannot leave and may have even real estate they cannot get rid off that easily, also you need money for that and not everyone can just move at the first sign of something wrong in the country, so for the most part people have to put with whatever the government is doing regardless of how bad it could be, however while a banning of cryptocurrencies could be inevitable in some countries there will always be countries where it is legal and you could open an account there and deposit your fiat in case you want to sell.

Times have changed now. Countries are moving towards a more restrictive immigration regimen, perhaps with the exception of a very few such as Canada. Nowadays only the super-rich are able to migrate to other countries and change their nationality. For the others, if they want to migrate to another nation then it takes long waits of 10 years or more and huge expenses irrespective of their skills. The days of open-border policies are over.

[Silberman]

Leaving is never an easy choice, after all most people have family and jobs they cannot leave and may have even real estate they cannot get rid off that easily, also you need money for that and not everyone can just move at the first sign of something wrong in the country, so for the most part people have to put with whatever the government is doing regardless of how bad it could be, however while a banning of cryptocurrencies could be inevitable in some countries there will always be countries where it is legal and you could open an account there and deposit your fiat in case you want to sell.

Times have changed now. Countries are moving towards a more restrictive immigration regimen, perhaps with the exception of a very few such as Canada. Nowadays only the super-rich are able to migrate to other countries and change their nationality. For the others, if they want to migrate to another nation then it takes long waits of 10 years or more and huge expenses irrespective of their skills. The days of open-border policies are over.

Things are probably going to get worse from now on, there was a time in which money was allowed to move more freely and obviously this allowed those with that money to move to a new country with relatively ease but since then many measures have been taken, but now that something like bitcoin exists immigration is going to be even more difficult as governments will see on every single person a potential threat as they do not know how much money that person can access, so most likely from now on a complete reveal of your finances will be necessary if you want to relocate to another country.