Since gambling is illegal in Thailand, the local police often conduct raids and arrest bookmakers and individual bettors. Depending on the severity of the gambling activity, offenders may pay a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 baht and may be imprisoned from one year to three years.
The ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling in Thailand, including hundreds of online gambling sites, shows the scale of the problem of illegal gambling in the country. Since the crackdown began in 2014, when the military had just came to power, there has, reportedly, been a growing number of Thai people crossing the border into Cambodia to visit. And in countries where gambling is still illegal, offshore casinos have become very popular. Thailand has some of the strictest gambling laws in Southeast Asia. Whereas Singapore and The Philippines have lax gambling laws, Thailand has some of the strictest gambling laws in Southeast Asia. Betting on horse racing and the government-sponsored. Police bust Chinese online gambling ring. Police in Thailand raided an illegal gambling operation in a hotel in the Mae Sot district, arresting 224 people. Police suspect the F4 hotel on Intharakhiri Road, downtown Mae Sot had been bought cheaply by Chinese gangsters to use as a base for their illegal online gambling operation. Every day at 8 a.m. And 6 p.m., Thai citizens across Thailand come to a standstill. Even in the chaotic city of Bangkok, pedestrians freeze and stop their daily grind to pay tribute to the most revered thing in Thailand: the monarchy.
Gambling, other than betting on horse races or the government-sponsored Thai lottery, is prohibited in Thailand.[1] The prohibition dates back to the Gambling Act 1935.[2] The Playing Cards Act prohibits private ownership of more than 120 playing cards without approval of the government. Nevertheless, illegal gambling in casinos (Thai: บ่อนการพนัน) and other forms of gambling still exist in Bangkok and some provincial towns.[3]
History[edit]
Gambling has long been a feature of Thai society. Local Siamese partook in more than 100 well known gambling games.[4] Some gambling forms such as betting on cockfights, bullfights and boat races are native to Siamese culture.[4]
The online sports betting market in the UK is estimated to be worth £650 million which has seen a compounding annual growth rate from 2009–12 of approximately 7%. The total online gambling population in the UK is estimated at 2.1 million customers. When did online gambling start in uk.
The late-19th century marked a significant increase in the level of gambling in Siam. People started to gamble more frequently and a variety of games were introduced from foreign traders and immigrants, and gambling started to hit the mainstream. It was during that period that the Huay lottery was introduced from China and became popular in Siam.[4]
Over the course of decades the Government of Thailand allowed legal gambling dens. During the reign of King Rama III, the Government of Thailand promoted legal gambling dens as a source of revenue. These legal dens were then closed down to dampen criminal activity and bankruptcy related to gambling. During the reign of King Rama V gambling was forbidden in the south and all the remaining gambling venues were closed on 1 April 1917.
A gambling act was first passed in 1930 and revised in 1935. During the premiership of Khuang Aphaiwong, the ministry of finance was assigned by the government to legalize gambling in Pran Buri District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and became an official promoter of gambling. However, this period of legalization of casinos did not last long. Under attack from the media and public, the government abandoned the attempt to earn additional revenue from casinos and prohibited gambling once again.[4]
Forms of gambling[edit]
Casinos[edit]
![Is online gambling illegal in thailand Is online gambling illegal in thailand](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/c_fill,g_auto,w_1200,h_675,ar_16:9/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F201103113635-pornhub-suspension-thailand.jpg)
Despite laws against gambling, illegal casinos are widespread in Thailand. The first large-scale gambling houses were established in Ayutthaya by the government in the late-17th century or early-18th century as a result of the steady growth of Chinese population. During the 19th century the number of gambling houses grew in tandem with the population of Chinese immigrants. To promote the settlement and taxation of the Chinese population in Thailand, the Thai government turned a blind eye to gambling among Chinese immigrants. As a result of this inadvertent endorsement, local Siamese were encouraged to gamble as well. After the gambling act was first passed in 1930 casinos were banned completely and gambling was prohibited in Thai society.[3]
Lottery[edit]
The lottery was introduced to Thailand by Chinese immigrants in 1820. Commonly known to the local as 'huay', the term is a direct translation of Chinese word huā (Chinese:花) :flower. In the beginning huay was mainly played among the community of Chinese immigrants in Thailand. It was then officially established during the reign of King Rama III to stimulate the circulation of currency as well as to generate national revenue.[3] Dragon quest 5 casino prizes.
Government lottery[edit]
In the reign of King Rama VI, the government introduced lottery draws as a device for tax collection. In 1939 the government of Luang Phibun Songkram set up the Lottery Bureau to organize a regular monthly draw in Thailand. It was then extended to twice a month in 1989. Draws normally happen twice a month on the 1st and 16th. There are a total of 38 million tickets per round. 28 percent of the sales value of the lottery ticket is retained as government revenue, 12 percent in administration and management and 60 percent is returned to players as prizes.[3]
Gambling on sport[edit]
Football is the most recent form of illegal gambling in Thailand. As a result of technology such as online transactions, satellite TV, Internet, and mobile phone betting systems, football gambling has become widely spread among the population of Thailand. During the 2010 South Africa World cup, over 1,700 people were arrested for gambling offences.[4]
Online gambling[edit]
Online gambling is illegal in Thailand. In 2020, as a part of a campaign against online casinos, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society began to cooperate with other state agencies to block websites that provide such services. According to the ministry, more than 1 billion baht ($32 million) pass through these sites every year.[5] During a raid in October 2020, the largest group of people in the history of the country, who owned an online casino, was arrested. According to the head of the national police, the group used 38 bank accounts, spending through them at least 15 billion baht ($480m). Later a 190 websites were blocked, mostly online casinos and porn sites, including Pornhub. This ban sparked a wave of protests and accusations of censorship.[6]
Social issues[edit]
Thai society has long frowned on gambling. In Buddhism, gambling is one of four vices which lead to ruin. In Thai this concept is known as abaiyamuk (อบายมุข), the 'portals of hell'. For the layperson, gambling is something to be avoided if one wishes to be free from suffering. Thai people often cite an old proverb 'Ten lost to fire is not equivalent to one lost in gambling' which reflects the variety of social problems associated with gambling in Thai culture. This may include violent crime, financial problems, and gambling addiction. Despite the prohibition, gambling still remains a major part of Thai life. Thais often gamble in various ceremonies and festivals. According to Alan Klima's study of funeral casinos in present-day Thailand, gambling is used as an attraction for people to keep the deceased spirit company.[4]
There are only a few psychological services available to those addicted, the such as Ministry of Public Health's Center of Gambling Studies. For Thais, gambling—lotteries, casinos, football betting and other variants—are viewed as entertainment. Very few seek treatment from medical professionals as Thais often view gambling as a social problem rather than a medical issue.[4]
References[edit]
- ^Mitchell, Angus; Christensen, Matthew; Krataykhwan, Ponpun (27 October 2013). 'GAMBLING IN THE KINGDOM, Part two'. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^'Gambling Act B.E.2478 (1935)'(PDF). Office of the Council of State. Archived from the original(PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ abcdPhongpaichit, P., Piriyarangsan, S. Treerat, N. (1998). Guns, girls, gambling, ganja: Thailand's Illegal Economy. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Silkworm Books.
- ^ abcdefgWarren, J.A. (2013) Gambling: The State and Society in Thailand, c.1800–1945. Oxford: Routledge.
- ^Ministry seeks ways to solve online gambling problem
- ^'Outrage as Thailand bans Pornhub, other porn websites'. South China Morning Post. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
Further reading[edit]
- Apinuntavech S (n.d.) เยาวชนกับการพนันในมุมมองของจิตแพทย์เด็กและวัยรุ่น Thailand:(n.p.).
- Oxford Dictionary(2010) Manser, M.H., Yuan, Z., Liangbi, W., Yongchang, R., Jingrong, W. (Eds.): Pocket Oxford Chinese Dictionary. Oxford: OUP Oxford.
- Apinuntavech S. (2012). Consequences and Associated Factors of Youth Gambling. Retrieved from http://www2.ph.mahidol.ac.th/research/thai/jmedassocthai/Vol95_Suppl6/S21-S29_MD31.pdf
- Phongpaichit,P (1999). THAILAND'S ILLEGAL ECONOMY AND PUBLIC POLICY. Paper presented at Centre of Southeast Asian Studies: Kyoto University.
External links[edit]
Thailand has some of the strictest gambling laws in the world. The government here bans most forms of traditional gambling. Despite the strict regulations, rates of gambling in Thailand are growing. Poker rooms near dallas tx.
It's surprising news for the country's lawmakers. Now is the perfect time to look at Thailand's set of gambling laws and talk about how many individuals here are gambling every year. Let's get started!
Current Gambling Laws in Thailand
Gambling has taken place in Thailand for centuries. For more than 80 years, however, the government has taken a very anti-gambling stance.
Today, the main piece of legislation that regulates the country's gambling industry is the Gambling Act of 1935. This set of laws includes a Royal Decree that essentially claims all forms of gambling are banned. The Playing Cards Act of 1943 and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1999 added even more restrictions to the gambling industry here.
Anyone caught gambling faces at least a 1,000 baht fine and up to one year in prison. Those found operating an illegal gambling venue could face a more substantial punishment.
Thailand does, however, allow certain forms of gambling to take place.
A government-operated lottery is available twice a month. Horse race wagering is legal, as well. Perhaps the most popular form of gambling in Thailand is betting on Muay Thai fights. Attendees to these fights can wager on the bout outcomes without fear of punishment by the police.
Despite the harsh laws against gambling in Thailand, more locals are choosing to wager every single month. A new study shows that rates of gambling are now extremely high here.
Rates of Gambling in Thailand Are Growing
No one knew how effective the Thai government's ban on gambling was until recently. Thailand's Center for Gambling Studies and Center for Social and Business Development released a study report that claims 57% of the adult population here has gambled during the past year.
Forty-four thousand fifty individuals between the ages of 15 and overtook part in this study. This year's findings mark an increase from a similar study in 2017, which found that 54.2% of Thai's had gambled over the previous year. Expanding this study across the entire population shows that some 30 million individuals in Thailand gamble annually.
![Gambling Gambling](https://d12swbtw719y4s.cloudfront.net/images/XYYvNJ9z/fZ1XpAZwuPwwTtwcG5Lz/AOMZTiTehz.jpeg?w=580)
Fortunately, most individuals here claim to only gamble through the government-run lottery. Underground, illegal lotteries are the second most form of gambling in Thailand. 3.5 million individuals here claimed to have made wagers on sports.
Legal lottery gambling is expected to bring in over 150.5 billion Baht this year. It's an extremely lucrative industry for the country and one that the government is unlikely to ban anytime soon. Research shows that this legal form of gambling acts as a gateway to illegal gaming activities. It wouldn't be a major surprise to see lawmakers set new lottery restrictions, though.
![Is gambling illegal in thailand Is gambling illegal in thailand](https://www.wheelsonourfeet.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Pet-Shops-in-Mumbai%E2%80%99s-Crawford-Market-10.jpg)
Despite laws against gambling, illegal casinos are widespread in Thailand. The first large-scale gambling houses were established in Ayutthaya by the government in the late-17th century or early-18th century as a result of the steady growth of Chinese population. During the 19th century the number of gambling houses grew in tandem with the population of Chinese immigrants. To promote the settlement and taxation of the Chinese population in Thailand, the Thai government turned a blind eye to gambling among Chinese immigrants. As a result of this inadvertent endorsement, local Siamese were encouraged to gamble as well. After the gambling act was first passed in 1930 casinos were banned completely and gambling was prohibited in Thai society.[3]
Lottery[edit]
The lottery was introduced to Thailand by Chinese immigrants in 1820. Commonly known to the local as 'huay', the term is a direct translation of Chinese word huā (Chinese:花) :flower. In the beginning huay was mainly played among the community of Chinese immigrants in Thailand. It was then officially established during the reign of King Rama III to stimulate the circulation of currency as well as to generate national revenue.[3] Dragon quest 5 casino prizes.
Government lottery[edit]
In the reign of King Rama VI, the government introduced lottery draws as a device for tax collection. In 1939 the government of Luang Phibun Songkram set up the Lottery Bureau to organize a regular monthly draw in Thailand. It was then extended to twice a month in 1989. Draws normally happen twice a month on the 1st and 16th. There are a total of 38 million tickets per round. 28 percent of the sales value of the lottery ticket is retained as government revenue, 12 percent in administration and management and 60 percent is returned to players as prizes.[3]
Gambling on sport[edit]
Football is the most recent form of illegal gambling in Thailand. As a result of technology such as online transactions, satellite TV, Internet, and mobile phone betting systems, football gambling has become widely spread among the population of Thailand. During the 2010 South Africa World cup, over 1,700 people were arrested for gambling offences.[4]
Online gambling[edit]
Online gambling is illegal in Thailand. In 2020, as a part of a campaign against online casinos, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society began to cooperate with other state agencies to block websites that provide such services. According to the ministry, more than 1 billion baht ($32 million) pass through these sites every year.[5] During a raid in October 2020, the largest group of people in the history of the country, who owned an online casino, was arrested. According to the head of the national police, the group used 38 bank accounts, spending through them at least 15 billion baht ($480m). Later a 190 websites were blocked, mostly online casinos and porn sites, including Pornhub. This ban sparked a wave of protests and accusations of censorship.[6]
Social issues[edit]
Thai society has long frowned on gambling. In Buddhism, gambling is one of four vices which lead to ruin. In Thai this concept is known as abaiyamuk (อบายมุข), the 'portals of hell'. For the layperson, gambling is something to be avoided if one wishes to be free from suffering. Thai people often cite an old proverb 'Ten lost to fire is not equivalent to one lost in gambling' which reflects the variety of social problems associated with gambling in Thai culture. This may include violent crime, financial problems, and gambling addiction. Despite the prohibition, gambling still remains a major part of Thai life. Thais often gamble in various ceremonies and festivals. According to Alan Klima's study of funeral casinos in present-day Thailand, gambling is used as an attraction for people to keep the deceased spirit company.[4]
There are only a few psychological services available to those addicted, the such as Ministry of Public Health's Center of Gambling Studies. For Thais, gambling—lotteries, casinos, football betting and other variants—are viewed as entertainment. Very few seek treatment from medical professionals as Thais often view gambling as a social problem rather than a medical issue.[4]
References[edit]
- ^Mitchell, Angus; Christensen, Matthew; Krataykhwan, Ponpun (27 October 2013). 'GAMBLING IN THE KINGDOM, Part two'. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^'Gambling Act B.E.2478 (1935)'(PDF). Office of the Council of State. Archived from the original(PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
- ^ abcdPhongpaichit, P., Piriyarangsan, S. Treerat, N. (1998). Guns, girls, gambling, ganja: Thailand's Illegal Economy. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Silkworm Books.
- ^ abcdefgWarren, J.A. (2013) Gambling: The State and Society in Thailand, c.1800–1945. Oxford: Routledge.
- ^Ministry seeks ways to solve online gambling problem
- ^'Outrage as Thailand bans Pornhub, other porn websites'. South China Morning Post. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
Further reading[edit]
- Apinuntavech S (n.d.) เยาวชนกับการพนันในมุมมองของจิตแพทย์เด็กและวัยรุ่น Thailand:(n.p.).
- Oxford Dictionary(2010) Manser, M.H., Yuan, Z., Liangbi, W., Yongchang, R., Jingrong, W. (Eds.): Pocket Oxford Chinese Dictionary. Oxford: OUP Oxford.
- Apinuntavech S. (2012). Consequences and Associated Factors of Youth Gambling. Retrieved from http://www2.ph.mahidol.ac.th/research/thai/jmedassocthai/Vol95_Suppl6/S21-S29_MD31.pdf
- Phongpaichit,P (1999). THAILAND'S ILLEGAL ECONOMY AND PUBLIC POLICY. Paper presented at Centre of Southeast Asian Studies: Kyoto University.
External links[edit]
Thailand has some of the strictest gambling laws in the world. The government here bans most forms of traditional gambling. Despite the strict regulations, rates of gambling in Thailand are growing. Poker rooms near dallas tx.
It's surprising news for the country's lawmakers. Now is the perfect time to look at Thailand's set of gambling laws and talk about how many individuals here are gambling every year. Let's get started!
Current Gambling Laws in Thailand
Gambling has taken place in Thailand for centuries. For more than 80 years, however, the government has taken a very anti-gambling stance.
Today, the main piece of legislation that regulates the country's gambling industry is the Gambling Act of 1935. This set of laws includes a Royal Decree that essentially claims all forms of gambling are banned. The Playing Cards Act of 1943 and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1999 added even more restrictions to the gambling industry here.
Anyone caught gambling faces at least a 1,000 baht fine and up to one year in prison. Those found operating an illegal gambling venue could face a more substantial punishment.
Thailand does, however, allow certain forms of gambling to take place.
A government-operated lottery is available twice a month. Horse race wagering is legal, as well. Perhaps the most popular form of gambling in Thailand is betting on Muay Thai fights. Attendees to these fights can wager on the bout outcomes without fear of punishment by the police.
Despite the harsh laws against gambling in Thailand, more locals are choosing to wager every single month. A new study shows that rates of gambling are now extremely high here.
Rates of Gambling in Thailand Are Growing
No one knew how effective the Thai government's ban on gambling was until recently. Thailand's Center for Gambling Studies and Center for Social and Business Development released a study report that claims 57% of the adult population here has gambled during the past year.
Forty-four thousand fifty individuals between the ages of 15 and overtook part in this study. This year's findings mark an increase from a similar study in 2017, which found that 54.2% of Thai's had gambled over the previous year. Expanding this study across the entire population shows that some 30 million individuals in Thailand gamble annually.
Fortunately, most individuals here claim to only gamble through the government-run lottery. Underground, illegal lotteries are the second most form of gambling in Thailand. 3.5 million individuals here claimed to have made wagers on sports.
Legal lottery gambling is expected to bring in over 150.5 billion Baht this year. It's an extremely lucrative industry for the country and one that the government is unlikely to ban anytime soon. Research shows that this legal form of gambling acts as a gateway to illegal gaming activities. It wouldn't be a major surprise to see lawmakers set new lottery restrictions, though.
Online Gambling Isn't Gaining Traction in Thailand
It's surprising to some that illegal land-based gambling is growing more popular in Thailand. It's also interesting to find that online gambling still isn't attracting Thai players. The gambling ban certainly applies to online gambling. Many are still able to make wagers through gambling sites in Europe using VPNs to hide their identities and location.
Is Sports Betting Illegal In Thailand
Online gambling isn't popular in this country. According to the new study, only 1.6% of those polled claimed to have gambled online. Baccarat is the most popular online gambling game. Only a small number of individuals here wagered on sports over the internet.
This report also claims that half of all gamblers here started by the time they were 20. One individual claimed that he began to wagering at age seven. More than 200,000 individuals in this country are gambling addicts.
Gambling in Thailand is popular, yet most of it is done legally. Not long ago, Cambodia began cracking down on its gambling industry. Hopefully, lawmakers in Thailand choose to keep the legal gambling options up and running.
Will Thailand's government ever choose to legalize casino gambling and sports betting? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!