National —
Thai Former Prime Minister Mr. Thaksin Shinawatra proposes legalizing online gambling to bring it above ground, with clear regulations, taxes, and age restrictions, to curb the growing underground market.
On January 5th, Mr. Thaksin delivered a speech in Mae Chan district, where he was campaigning for Mrs. Salakjit Tiyapairat, a candidate for Chiang Rai Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) president.
During his speech, Mr. Thaksin mentioned that on January 29th, Thai senior citizens aged 60 and above would receive 10,000 baht as part of the government’s cash handout program. He stressed that the government planned to tackle economic issues seriously in 2025, address the drug problem, and dismantle the call center scam gangs operating from Myanmar.
Mr. Thaksin also talked about online gambling in Thailand, saying that more than 2.5 to 4 million people play it every day in the country. He suggested that online gambling should be regulated like the legal lottery, with clear rules, taxes, and an age limit of 20 years or older. People who become addicted could be sent for medical treatment, Mr. Thaksin suggested.
In response, Mr. Prasert Chantharungthong, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, acknowledged that online gambling is a significant social problem in Thailand, with many young people and citizens playing it.
He agreed that making it legal could help control it and stop problems, such as fake banking accounts and personal data theft, which are linked to online gambling and scams. By regulating it, the Thai government could also apply laws and collect taxes, which would help the economy.
Mr. Prasert also mentioned that if this plan is to happen, the laws need to be changed. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is working on how to propose this change.
As for Mr. Thaksin’s idea of allowing only people over 20 years old to play and sending those who get addicted to treatment, Mr. Prasert said the ministry hasn’t discussed it yet. He believed Mr. Thaksin might be looking at examples from other countries, but it’s not clear if this is possible.
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