Gambling Regulations In Thailand
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- Gambling Law In Thailand
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Thailand’s Gambling Act was enacted in 1935, though it has been amended several times. The law is phrased in terms of “games.” It prohibits the organization of, participation in, or gambling in, any of the games specified in its List A, any similar games, or any harmful games so specified in subsequent ministerial regulations, unless a. Thailand is cracking down on online gambling websites. Internet providers will have 15 days to block 1,202 gambling websites before charges are pressed for violating Thailand’s Computer Crime Act. Although gambling is technically illegal in Thailand, underground and online gambling thrives in pockets of the country.
Thailand has some of the strictest gambling laws in the world. The government here bans most forms of traditional gambling. Despite the strict regulations, rates of gambling in Thailand are growing.
It’s surprising news for the country’s lawmakers. Now is the perfect time to look at Thailand’s set of gambling laws and talk about how many individuals here are gambling every year. Let’s get started!
Current Gambling Laws in Thailand
Gambling has taken place in Thailand for centuries. For more than 80 years, however, the government has taken a very anti-gambling stance.
Today, the main piece of legislation that regulates the country’s gambling industry is the Gambling Act of 1935. This set of laws includes a Royal Decree that essentially claims all forms of gambling are banned. The Playing Cards Act of 1943 and the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1999 added even more restrictions to the gambling industry here.
Anyone caught gambling faces at least a 1,000 baht fine and up to one year in prison. Those found operating an illegal gambling venue could face a more substantial punishment.
Thailand does, however, allow certain forms of gambling to take place.
A government-operated lottery is available twice a month. Horse race wagering is legal, as well. Perhaps the most popular form of gambling in Thailand is betting on Muay Thai fights. Attendees to these fights can wager on the bout outcomes without fear of punishment by the police.
Despite the harsh laws against gambling in Thailand, more locals are choosing to wager every single month. A new study shows that rates of gambling are now extremely high here.
Gambling Regulations In Thailand Tourism
Rates of Gambling in Thailand Are Growing
No one knew how effective the Thai government’s ban on gambling was until recently. Thailand’s Center for Gambling Studies and Center for Social and Business Development released a study report that claims 57% of the adult population here has gambled during the past year.
Forty-four thousand fifty individuals between the ages of 15 and overtook part in this study. This year’s findings mark an increase from a similar study in 2017, which found that 54.2% of Thai’s had gambled over the previous year. Expanding this study across the entire population shows that some 30 million individuals in Thailand gamble annually.
Fortunately, most individuals here claim to only gamble through the government-run lottery. Underground, illegal lotteries are the second most form of gambling in Thailand. 3.5 million individuals here claimed to have made wagers on sports.
Legal lottery gambling is expected to bring in over 150.5 billion Baht this year. It’s an extremely lucrative industry for the country and one that the government is unlikely to ban anytime soon. Research shows that this legal form of gambling acts as a gateway to illegal gaming activities. It wouldn’t be a major surprise to see lawmakers set new lottery restrictions, though.
Online Gambling Isn’t Gaining Traction in Thailand
It’s surprising to some that illegal land-based gambling is growing more popular in Thailand. It’s also interesting to find that online gambling still isn’t attracting Thai players. The gambling ban certainly applies to online gambling. Many are still able to make wagers through gambling sites in Europe using VPNs to hide their identities and location.
Gambling Law In Thailand
Online gambling isn’t popular in this country. According to the new study, only 1.6% of those polled claimed to have gambled online. Baccarat is the most popular online gambling game. Only a small number of individuals here wagered on sports over the internet.
This report also claims that half of all gamblers here started by the time they were 20. One individual claimed that he began to wagering at age seven. More than 200,000 individuals in this country are gambling addicts.
Gambling in Thailand is popular, yet most of it is done legally. Not long ago, Cambodia began cracking down on its gambling industry. Hopefully, lawmakers in Thailand choose to keep the legal gambling options up and running.
Will Thailand’s government ever choose to legalize casino gambling and sports betting? Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
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