Increasing calls are coming from political parties to pressurize Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha into legalizing casinos.
The subject, rarely far from the news in gambling mad Thailand, has once again been thrust to the forefront after busts of policemen involved in allowing illegal dens amid the spead of Covid-19.
Now two senior political figures have joined the fray.
Bangkok Business News reported a post from the head of the Kla Party, Korn Chatikavanij who, referencing his party’s name, said the PM needs to show some bravery and put the matter on the table.
Korn – a man who was born in England where legalized gambling is available in most every high street – said if his party was in power legalizing gambling would be the first thing he would do.
He said that tax from legalization could be spent on the public and this would be far better than profits lining the pockets of mafia figures.
Korn stopped short of suggesting that many of those figures are actually in positions of power, notes Thaivisa, though he did mention “persons of influence”.
Rather than trying to eradicate illegal gambling it should be “put on the table” he said.
Much of the problems associated with Covid spread come from the fact that it is largely underground, he intimated.
PPTV36 also published the comments of the Thai Forest Conservation Party chief Damrong Phidech who they said in their headline was “daring” the PM to legalize casinos.
The party founder has long been a proponent of the idea that he suggested in 2015 during his time on the National Reform Council.
Six years after that, there have been no developments, he noted, proposing once again that areas be set aside for legalizing gambling with controls on who can bet and other restrictions to regulate it by the government. – Bangkok Business News
