A coalition of concerned youth activists delivered a petition to Thailand’s Prime Minister’s Office, urging the government to reconsider its ideas to legalize online gambling.
The group, representing a network opposed to gambling, voiced alarm over the potential surge in youth gambling addiction, citing current statistics that paint a worrying picture.
According to The Bagkok Post, Sompat Ninlaphan, deputy permanent secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, received the petition on behalf of the government.
Wasinee Sonsab, the network coordinator, spearheaded the effort, expressing deep concern over the proposed amendments to the Gambling Act 1935, which would pave the way for legalized online gambling.
“Currently, Thai youths can access gambling in large numbers,” Ms. Wasinee stated, referencing data from the Center for Gambling Studies. According to the center’s findings, 32.3 percent of individuals aged 15-25, or approximately 2.9 million people, engaged in online gambling in 2023.
Alarmingly, the network claims that one in four of those young gamblers, roughly 739,000 individuals, are at risk of developing a gambling addiction.
“This is a statistic that has not been protected by the government at all,” Ms. Wasinee asserted. “The network would like to express its disagreement with the policy as the government’s attempt to generate more income through online gambling is a greedy and shameful idea. This obviously demonstrates the desire to solely pursue short-term profits, with detrimental social effects that will follow in the long run.”
The youth network also criticized the government’s claim that revenue generated from legalized gambling would fund scholarships for underprivileged students. They argued that this approach essentially uses young people’s futures as a bargaining chip, without addressing the underlying risks.
Bodinchai Boonpok, leader of the Youth Network for Risk Reduction of Ramkhamhaeng University, echoed these concerns, highlighting the difficulty individuals face when trying to break free from online gambling addiction.
He noted that many gambling addicts resort to dishonest means to fuel their habit. “We do not believe that legalizing online gambling or casinos will reduce or eliminate illegal online gambling sites and illegal gambling dens,” Mr. Bodinchai said. “It is merely an excuse to trick people.”
This petition comes as the government progresses with its plans to legalize casino-entertainment complexes through the Entertainment Complex Business Act. The draft act, currently in its final stages of public hearings, is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on March 4th.
The proposed legislation aims to bring Thailand’s substantial underground gambling industry into the legal framework, generating tax revenue. The act outlines regulations regarding the establishment, operation, and oversight of these entertainment complexes, including requirements for substantial registered capital and stringent entry fees for Thai nationals.
According to government sources, the Entertainment Complex Business Act is projected to be enacted by the first quarter of 2026, with construction of the complexes expected to begin in 2027. The bill itself does not include online gambling.
The youth network’s petition underscores the growing debate surrounding the potential benefits and risks of legalizing gambling in Thailand, particularly concerning the impact on vulnerable young people.
