Casino and Thailand

[Chatty]

A couple of days I heard the news that our goverment (Samak and Chalerm) had a thought to have casino in Thailand.

From what I heard lastnight they talked about set up the casino in the top 5 tourist places such as Phuket, Pataya.

For me I really have no idea, but I have been told that "bet" is worst thing... it can make you lose everything. My dad played card when he was younger, he still has card at home but he never touch it, and never let me touch it, and never teach me too.

Is it true that it can grow our business? I'm not sure.

No matter what "bet" is in most of thai people blood for long long time. We have so many illegal gambling dens. Casino just make it in legal track, right?

I think it will effect thai lifestyle for sure.

[PeeMarc]

Personally, I would be quite sad if I saw casinos being built in Thailand. But, I believe it is inevitable at some point in the future. The incredible amount of cash money involved is just too much temptation for those greedy people at all levels.

In Australia, I watched as many casino were built and I read and watched seemingly endless debates about them. But still, they all went ahead, regardless.

I suppose the worst and most ugly aspect of casinos are the effect they have on poor people who live in the grim hope of 'making it big' - the ones who, week after week, throw away their small amounts of money (often ALL their money) following this crazy dream. In the end, many of these people end up in huge financial problems from which they have no way out. These are the real tragic losers of any casino, anywhere in the world.

It is usually the poor and uneducated people who seem to behave against all logic and common sense when it comes to gambling. My personal 4 rules of gambling are:

1. Never gamble with more than you are prepared to lose.

2. Never gamble today to make up lost money from gambling the day before.

3. Before gambling, always set a limit on how much you want to win AND how much you are prepared to lose... and WALK away when either of these are achieved.

4. Being "on a run or role of good luck" is total bullshit. eg. if you flip a coin 100 times and every time it comes up heads, the odds of that coin coming up heads on the 101th time is STILL EXACTLY 50/50.

I would never say that to follow these 4 rules would mean you make money from gambling. But if followed they DO at least stop you from pain.

How many people gambling would honestly follow these every time? Very very few.... and THAT is presicely why casinos make so much money.

In Singapore, they are building huge casino complexes on Sentosa island. After much public debate, they have set some ground rules and laws to stop or discourage people from 'losing their shirts'. Singapore tends to be very sensible when it comes to these sorts of things.

I very much doubt, given Thailand's political history, that anyone in authority will worry about much anyone but themselves and they will continue to line their own pockets even more than they do now.

[AAAum]

very short word .."agree ja, PeeMarc"

[Dave40]

Casino= Licence to Print Money!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

[Zombiedriven]

Casino= License to Print Money!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

that and also the ability to bring in at least 250 jobs per place. And also if the Thais don't want to gamble that is fine I believe they are aiming at tourist industries. And mainly at Americans.

Me personally I love to gamble but I don't go out and waste 5000 dollars in one night like some people I know. I grew up around Las Vegas I seen what happens.

[PeeMarc]

Casino= License to Print Money!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted:

that and also the ability to bring in at least 250 jobs per place. And also if the Thais don't want to gamble that is fine I believe they are aiming at tourist industries. And mainly at Americans.

Me personally I love to gamble but I don't go out and waste 5000 dollars in one night like some people I know. I grew up around Las Vegas I seen what happens.

Problem is.... many Thai people LOVE to gamble. particularly the poor ones.

[Zombiedriven]

true I am not trying to stereotypical of Asians but yea they love to gamble.

but also every other country that has any type of gambling.

It has its problems but it does bring in a lot of revenue so let them have it.

most casinos lets take Las Vegas for example pays 5-10 percent of their taxes to the local economy meaning roads, schools, and the park system to name a few. Yes given it is a win loose situation and it is a heavy burden on everybody involved but it will do some good.

[PeeMarc]

true I am not trying to stereotypical of Asians but yea they love to gamble.

but also every other country that has any type of gambling.

It has its problems but it does bring in a lot of revenue so let them have it.

most casinos lets take Las Vegas for example pays 5-10 percent of their taxes to the local economy meaning roads, schools, and the park system to name a few. Yes given it is a win loose situation and it is a heavy burden on everybody involved but it will do some good.

You are assuming (very heavily) that ANY money from casinos here in Thailand will, in anyway, trickle down to the public via taxes etc. This is not Las Vegas. And to believe (apart from job creation) that casinos here will help the country is fantasy.

For example, have a look to see if Genting Highlands in Malaysia helps the country. I don't really see it.

As i said, if the governament and country are mature enough to deal with all the issues involved with a casino, it could be viable. But I cant see that here in Thailand.

[R.Win]

true I am not trying to stereotypical of Asians but yea they love to gamble.

but also every other country that has any type of gambling.

It has its problems but it does bring in a lot of revenue so let them have it.

most casinos lets take Las Vegas for example pays 5-10 percent of their taxes to the local economy meaning roads, schools, and the park system to name a few. Yes given it is a win loose situation and it is a heavy burden on everybody involved but it will do some good.

You are assuming (very heavily) that ANY money from casinos here in Thailand will, in anyway, trickle down to the public via taxes etc. This is not Las Vegas. And to believe (apart from job creation) that casinos here will help the country is fantasy.

For example, have a look to see if Genting Highlands in Malaysia helps the country. I don't really see it.

As i said, if the governament and country are mature enough to deal with all the issues involved with a casino, it could be viable. But I cant see that here in Thailand.

WOW, for once I have to disagree a eeny weeny bit with you mr. Smith, I think the casino does help the country. Only if a large ammount of the profit goes to the government however. If the casino is owned by the government there will be extra funds and it might just take a bite out of illegal gambling. HOWEVER, since many people can't control themselves and might be (or become) gambling addicts it might set the door wide open to people who now don't gamble because it is illegal and might then think, "AH! what the heck its legal so it's ok".

All the money coming from business people both thai & foreign is welcome because they might suffer losses without feeling too much pain. And a casino is interesting for business too btw, it does boost business as far as I know. But the effect it might have on the poor & needy might even be greater so it depends a bit... IF the negative side is greater than the positive, well then I'll just have to agree with you anyway I guess, IF not I won't 8)

[PeeMarc]

true I am not trying to stereotypical of Asians but yea they love to gamble.

but also every other country that has any type of gambling.

It has its problems but it does bring in a lot of revenue so let them have it.

most casinos lets take Las Vegas for example pays 5-10 percent of their taxes to the local economy meaning roads, schools, and the park system to name a few. Yes given it is a win loose situation and it is a heavy burden on everybody involved but it will do some good.

You are assuming (very heavily) that ANY money from casinos here in Thailand will, in anyway, trickle down to the public via taxes etc. This is not Las Vegas. And to believe (apart from job creation) that casinos here will help the country is fantasy.

For example, have a look to see if Genting Highlands in Malaysia helps the country. I don't really see it.

As i said, if the governament and country are mature enough to deal with all the issues involved with a casino, it could be viable. But I cant see that here in Thailand.

WOW, for once I have to disagree a eeny weeny bit with you mr. Smith, I think the casino does help the country. Only if a large ammount of the profit goes to the government however. If the casino is owned by the government there will be extra funds and it might just take a bite out of illegal gambling. HOWEVER, since many people can't control themselves and might be (or become) gambling addicts it might set the door wide open to people who now don't gamble because it is illegal and might then think, "AH! what the heck its legal so it's ok".

All the money coming from business people both thai & foreign is welcome because they might suffer losses without feeling too much pain. And a casino is interesting for business too btw, it does boost business as far as I know. But the effect it might have on the poor & needy might even be greater so it depends a bit... IF the negative side is greater than the positive, well then I'll just have to agree with you anyway I guess, IF not I won't 8)

All that, my friend, sounds like a 50/50 bet each way.

[Katoom]

WOW, for once I have to disagree a eeny weeny bit with you mr. Smith, I think the casino does help the country. Only if a large ammount of the profit goes to the government however. If the casino is owned by the government there will be extra funds and it might just take a bite out of illegal gambling. HOWEVER, since many people can't control themselves and might be (or become) gambling addicts it might set the door wide open to people who now don't gamble because it is illegal and might then think, "AH! what the heck its legal so it's ok".

All the money coming from business people both thai & foreign is welcome because they might suffer losses without feeling too much pain. And a casino is interesting for business too btw, it does boost business as far as I know. But the effect it might have on the poor & needy might even be greater so it depends a bit... IF the negative side is greater than the positive, well then I'll just have to agree with you anyway I guess, IF not I won't 8)

I think you are on the right track here Win.

There is an amasing amount of development having been undertaken in Macau and the infrastructure is growing all of the time. We already know that Macau has now become a bigger money spinner than Vegas, acheived purely on the fact that it is right on the doorstep of China.

Macau is becoming very very rich and has a virtually zero tax rate. Granted, lot of the cash is going out to the big casino companies but there are a lot of benefits for the locals in terms of more jobs, better housing and even their own oportunities to start new businesses to cater to the increased visitors to the territory.

Other cities will be trying to lure more dolloars out of foreign business and holiday travellers, not necessarily the locals, in the same manner. I know it cannot be compared to Macau for obvious reasons but there are an awful lot of Chinese holiday makers these days and their numbers will only increase over the next 10 to 20 years.

Chinese tourists are a massive market in that respect and their primary destinations would be in Asia first as it is better to suit the short holiday periods the Chinese have and therefore shorter travelling distances etc.

PeeMarc, you mentioned Sing and the casinos being developed there. I think they have specifically set a door price of around SGD300 especially to keep the locals from even contemplating going there in the first place.

Yes, the dangers of gambing are present but I think that overall, if done properly, the casino business can benefit the local community more than damaging it and on that basis we should not really be too critical.

[PeeMarc]

PeeMarc, you mentioned Sing and the casinos being developed there. I think they have specifically set a door price of around SGD300 especially to keep the locals from even contemplating going there in the first place.

Yes, the dangers of gambing are present but I think that overall, if done properly, the casino business can benefit the local community more than damaging it and on that basis we should not really be too critical.

You are absolutely right, that's one of the ways Singapore are deterring low-end people from entering and gambling their small savings away.

Look, I have never doubted that casinos are a huge shot in the arm for economies. I suppose the main concern I have is that Thailand is so corrupt and so inept at doing large scale things (airport is a joke for example). I really dont have much faith in the governments ability to handle things maturely, even compared to the Chinese who are historically brilliant at money issues. Anyway... its yet to be proven if Thailand can in fact deal with it. I would love to be proven wrong on this.

[i_love_som_tam]

i seem to recall that Thaksin was pushing for casinos in 5 locations in Thailand prior to the coup. i know that many of my Thai friends were opposed to this plan because of the gambling addiction that many Thai people have.

my staff will gamble on everything; from a game of pool to whether or not it will rain.

if the proceeds go back into community then i don't see why not. given the corruption here i don't think that will be the case. more money will be needed to set up programs for citizens that become addicted to gambling.

i know that many of the native american indian reservations that have established casinos are prospering even after businesses like Harrah's take their cut. the cherokee reservation in North Carolina puts all of their proceeds back into the community. if thailand can follow suit then it may work.