Thailand: Gambling worth ‘325 billions of Thai Baht a year’

Thais spend about Bt325 billion a year on gambling, legal and illegal, and about 23.7 million people play the underground lottery regularly, a Chulalongkorn University economist says.

Dr Nualnoi Treerat yesterday presented her latest study on gambling, which she said constituted a large portion of Thailand’s illicit economy, at a seminar entitled “The Gambling Economy and Public Policy”.

Nualnoi conducted the study with Dr Yongyut Chaiyaphong, Weeraphan Phrommontri, Wissanu Wongsinsirikun, Phinit Wongyeekun and Sathaphorn Meejettana.

Based on a survey, the research team estimated the size of Thailand’s “gambling economy”, or the amount of money Thais spend on gambling annually, at Bt324.795 billion.

Of the amount, 35.09 per cent or Bt114 billion is spent in clandestine casinos by 4.2 million gamblers. The underground lottery involves the highest number of gamblers, however, 23.7 million. They spend Bt92 billion annually, or 28.35 per cent.

The team also conducted an opinion poll of about 2,000 people over 15 years of age in Bangkok and nearby provinces, and another 3,000 residents of a further 20 provinces, Nualnoi said.

About 30 per cent of respondents supported the legalisation of casinos and bookmaking, 57 per cent were opposed to legalisation, and 13 per cent were indifferent.

Among those who supported legalisation, 63 per cent said it would generate tax revenue and 43 per cent agreed it would promote tourism. Thirty-six per cent said legalisation would promote the creation of new enterprises and jobs.

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