Dhanin: Legal casinos the way forward

TOURISM

Published: 28 Jul 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Business

Thailand should legalise gambling to get more revenue from tourism and eliminate illegal casinos operating across the country, says Dhanin Chearavanont, chairman of the CP Group.

"We should accept the truth that we have underground businesses," said Thailand's wealthiest man according to Forbes magazine.

"Because gambling is illegal, they don't pay tax but instead run the business underground and pay money under the table. Why don't we legalise it?"

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

clowsley
Post : 1
Send message

Discussion 9 : 02 Aug 2012 at 10.179
Post this to my Facebook
No need to stand on the moral high ground about gambling. Is it wrong that this industry could provide thousands of jobs to Thais, and bring in millions of dollars to local communities which presently goes overseas? The UK was a late comer to the idea of casinoes and has managed it quite well. The goverment could use their business model. Tax avoidance is quite another issue which needs tighening up world wide.
Like dislike 3 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
fundeena
Post : 1,273
Send message

Discussion 8 : 29 Jul 2012 at 22.128
Post this to my Facebook
"Casino Shinawatra". I can see it now. 5555555555
Like dislike 1 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
Renaissance
Post : 1,855
Send message

Discussion 7 : 29 Jul 2012 at 10.337
Post this to my Facebook
Khun Dhannin, I have to wonder if you are speaking on behalf of someone else. You are too intelligent to make such a recommendation. If casinos were allowed to appear everywhere, more and more of your fellow citizens will be in debt because they think that they can beat the casino at the tables. Then we will have to face the increase in crime, which you are no doubt protected from, sir.
Like dislike 3 people liked / 4 people disliked this comment
lazar
Post : 1,511
Send message

Discussion 6 : 28 Jul 2012 at 16.086
Post this to my Facebook
Koolbreez D5:

Which casinos bar the local residents from entry and using their facilities (all of them)?

This is news to me
Like dislike 2 people liked / 4 people disliked this comment
koolbreez
Post : 639
Send message

Discussion 5 : 28 Jul 2012 at 14.015
Post this to my Facebook
It is foolish to think legal casinos would put an end to underground casinos. There is too much money involved to let locals gamble in legal casinos. This is how other countries deal with legal casinos, they are only for the tourists, and locals are barred from even entering them. This is the gambling model I see Thailand instituting if gambling is legalized, not a Macao model. The local underground casinos would not be affected at all, and a new crop of tourist dollars only would fund those owning the legal casinos, with taxes somehow averted.
Like dislike 3 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment
khunbj
Post : 1,123
Send message

Discussion 4 : 28 Jul 2012 at 10.484
Post this to my Facebook
Yep, legalize Casinos and any other gambling as long as it is ethical , gambling is a part of asian culture, so it is a waste of time trying to suppress it .... but the idea could get obstructed by the influential police and army related persons that appear to run a lot of the illegal gambling dens, so let's see what happen, shall we ?
Like dislike 21 people liked / 2 people disliked this comment
lazar
Post : 1,511
Send message

Discussion 3 : 28 Jul 2012 at 10.063
Post this to my Facebook
totally agree legal taxed casino's is the way to go.
Like dislike 13 people liked / 5 people disliked this comment
tansri
Post : 738
Send message

Discussion 2 : 28 Jul 2012 at 06.472
Post this to my Facebook
Legal casino is the way to go. Let's get on with it.
Like dislike 9 people liked / 7 people disliked this comment
justfacts
Post : 652
Send message

Discussion 1 : 28 Jul 2012 at 06.231
Post this to my Facebook
with the world aware of corruption and dishonesty in Thailand, do you really think tourists will line up to get screwed by a thai casino?
Like dislike 17 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment

Dhanin: Legal casinos the way forward | Bangkok Post: business