Thailand’s new Prime Minister, Anutin Chanvirakul, has reinforced his anti-gambling sentiment by reversing a July decision to recognise poker as a sport.
Chanvirakul was a consistent critic of the previous Thai government’s plans to introduce regulated land-based casinos in the country. Yesterday (22 October), he signed an executive order revoking permissions for poker tournaments and Thai card games known as “Pai Phae”, extinguishing any faint signs of life for the comeback of the integrated resorts bill.
In July, an interior ministry order lifted a 1958 ban on poker tournaments, allowing the game to be classified as a sport by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT).
It was a move taken with the aim of boosting tourism to Thailand through the hosting of poker tournaments, such as a World Poker Tour exhibition that took place in August.
However, Chanvirakul was damning of the previous decision.
He told the media after the signing: “We will not promote any form of gambling. Our focus remains on ethical growth, tourism that benefits all, and policies aligned with national welfare.”
Thailand forced to address illegal market
While the Thai government has taken steps to curtail legal gaming, the country’s illegal gaming market continues to pose a problem for authorities.
Earlier this week, the Pattaya Mail reported that the Digital Economy and Society Minister, Chaichanok Chidchob, was offered a bribe of 40m baht (£910,390) to stop enforcement action on online gaming and money laundering operations.
This came as various government authorities also reported making over 100 arrests related to illegal gambling operations believed to be generating over 17bn baht (£386.9m) annually.
It is reported that over 34.5 million Thais participate in gambling, whether through the black market or the legal state lottery. The illegal sector is estimated to be worth 1.1trn baht (£22.8bn) annually.
Although Charnvirakul has dismissed gambling’s potential to stimulate economic growth, the extent of the black market suggests that the government is missing out on a significant windfall that some industry voices believe will eventually be too strong to ignore.
