Thailand to launch public survey on casinos

As Thailand’s casino debate heats up, the government is planning to launch an online survey to gauge public opinion on legalizing casinos in the country, Malaysian media reported.

According to the Bernama news agency, Royal Thai police chief Pol. Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung, who will retire in October, said a website would launch on September 1 outlining the pros and cons of legal casinos.

Speaking to reporters at Government House, he said his idea of a survey will be discussed with the 12 members of the National Reform Council and that if people were in favor of the proposal the government would need to devise plans on how to spend the revenue.

He said according to a study by academic Sungsidh Poriyarangsan, who is also a member of NRC, legalising casinos could generate about 400 billion ($11.8 billion) to 500 billion baht per year.

Thailand Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-cha yesterday told local media that the government had no stance on the casino issue.

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