Months ahead of his retirement from the force, Pol Gen Somyot said yesterday (June 17) he would be happy to be the first police chief to implement the controversial idea. He appears to envisage a string of regional casinos, which he said should be open to people only with means and those not resident in the local area.
A Bangkok resident could not try his luck in a Bangkok casino, but would have to travel further afield such as Phuket, on the basis he would be bringing in income from a different area. In any event, he said all players must have "strong" finances, to help guard against poor people ending up even poorer as a result of gambling losses.
Pol Gen Somyot said that one month before his mandatory retirement at the end of September he will call the media to declare his support for the proposed legalisation of casinos, and launch a personal website to gauge public opinion.
The idea of legalising casinos has been proposed by a group of 12 National Reform Council members who say tax income from casinos would boost state coffers and could be spent on development projects.
Pol Gen Somyot said Thailand has all it takes to run casinos – good food and tourist attractions, and advanced entertainment and shopping complexes.
He has also addressed concerns about the impact of gambling addiction and possible gambling-related crimes. Pol Gen Somyot said a database of gamblers would be set up with all people entering casinos being photographed and registered.
"A casino in Chiang Mai would be off-limits to residents from that province. The ones in Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani or Koh Lan [in Chon Buri] also will be off-limits to local residents, though they could always play somewhere else. What's more, gamblers must have strong finances," he said.
Taxes from casinos could be spent on education and social affairs, he said, adding he is not intimidated by opposition from civic groups campaigning against gambling and vice. Without legalised casinos, illegal gambling is rampant, he said.
Thanakorn Khromkrit, director of the Yut Phanan (Stop Gambling) network, says a gaming regulator would be needed before such a proposal could go ahead.
Mr Thanakorn said the national lottery which is drawn twice a month and casinos are "different issues". Casinos carry more risks and can cause far more serious damage, he said.
Pro-casino NRC member Anan Watcharothai said yesterday he would continue to push ahead with the idea as long as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and NRC chairman Thienchay Kiranandana do not put the brakes on it.
The prime minister says the government has no stance on the issue and the public should decide.
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