Thailand discusses legalization of online gambling in Thailand

As Chinese actor Wang Xing was rescued from Myawaddy in Myanmar, the Bangkok Post quoted Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong as saying that the Thai government will begin preliminary discussions on legalizing online gambling in Thailand.

As the legalization of online gambling still requires the passage of multiple legal amendments, the minister urged officials from various relevant units to discuss it simultaneously, and it is expected that the formal study of the relevant plan will be completed in the next few months.

He admitted that although online gambling is associated with many social ills and criminal behavior among Thai youth, a large amount of money flows through online gambling platforms every day, which will be beneficial to the economy if properly taxed locally.

Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said at the weekend that allowing regulated online gambling would be good for both the economy and society, rather than letting the industry flourish underground.

The government may initially issue five casino licenses: two in Bangkok, and one each in Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

When originally proposed, Thailand’s move to legalize gambling in the country also included online gambling, which is already common in the country despite being illegal and untaxed.

But according to observers, the largest source of customers for legalized online gambling in Thailand will be Chinese, and the gamblers of online gambling are mostly Chinese people living in China.