Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing well gambling yet again on this channel. Gambling has been a topic that has come up rather frequently in recent weeks and in my opinion, it is something that may be an issue moving forward. Based on sort of what I am seeing, what we saw last year, it looks like there is serious consideration being given at least in Parliament to the notion of legalization of gambling. 

Now that said, as we have discussed in other videos specifically, I have a background in the gaming industry. I actually worked in the casino business all through law school and I like to think I have a little bit of insight at least into sort of the pros and cons of gambling. There are major benefits, most notably in the form of tax revenue that can accrue to the state as a result of the legalization of gambling. That said, setting up a well-balanced framework on how to implement legalization of gambling from the outset is a good idea. So for example, as I have discussed in other videos, I have my issues with the notion of just having one Casino Complex. I think there are good points to be made for having at least limited gaming licenses in other contexts for example being able to get a license for a single for example poker table at different venues. Much in the same vein that different bars and establishments throughout the country have pool tables, maybe you can have a single card table so people can play cards when they want to. It could be another way to draw in possible customers for that sector, the food and beverage sector here in Thailand. Again, and Casinos themselves can act as a sinkhole for money but not only that, they can cause real problems to a society as people become addicted to gambling for example, lose all their money and then that causes ills for society because oftentimes society has to effectively take care of folks who have problems with gambling. So there is a lot to really look at when you are analyzing the overall issue of legalization of gambling in a given jurisdiction. 

Now that brings us to online gambling which is kind of a newer thing. It was around when I was for example dealing cards back some 15, 16, 17 years ago but it was in a very different form because smartphones were not ubiquitous back then. In fact, they didn't really exist yet. In the modern era gambling is way different. I thought of making this video after reading recent article from the Bangkok Post, bangkokpost.com, the article is titled: Just asking for trouble. Quoting directly: "The idea floated by Deputy Prime Minister Somsak Thepsutin of legalizing online gambling to boost government revenue has come under fire as critics believe the pursuit will be hard to control and will cause multiple social problems. Mr. Somsak, who supervises the Justice Ministry, made the remarks following reports that eight policemen were found be involved in online gambling operations." Quoting further: "Visanu Vongsinsirikul, an economic scholar, told the Bangkok Post that the internet brings together all forms of betting and people can gamble on apps, websites, on smartphones or computers. "The problem is how to protect children and young people from online gambling. Even adults are likely to become addicted to it. Online gambling is easily accessible and people can gamble anywhere, anytime."

Yeah, that's kind of the problem with online gambling is one) accessibility to children. Hard to regulate that, very hard to regulate that. I mean we see that even with issues involving pornography and children on the internet: not specifically children being involved in that but they are having access to it. I can say as a parent myself, I am concerned that my child could access that kind of material. I would worry the same way about legal online gambling platforms here in Thailand. The other big issue is when you have to keep in mind, I remember doing the analysis, I even took a course in law school on Indian Gaming Law, Native American Gaming Law and we got into the issue, the notion of Destination Gambling or Casino Gambling, excuse me Convenience Gambling, so Destination or Convenience Gambling. And the real downsides to Convenience Gambling is addicted gamblers are much more likely to abuse it and have serious problems.

Now you can make arguments regarding physical casinos spaces, that's one thing and I think there are arguments pro and con to be made but I am kind of on the fence as to whether or not that is good or bad or indifferent when I am thinking about it in the physical context. When I think about online gambling with the ubiquitousness of smartphones everywhere, yeah, I think that is a bad idea. I think that Thai society would get all of the downsides and no particular great benefit. Yes, tax revenue obviously as they go into in that article and I urge those watching this video go check out that article in detail, but as noted in previous videos, okay there is tax revenue but you have to weigh it against the societal ills and from online gambling, I see the societal ills far outpacing any of the benefits associated with tax revenue on that kind of activity. So the thing to take away from this video, at least in my opinion is look I think there are strong arguments to be made for casino complexes I think there are even stronger arguments to be made for certain limited licensing for smaller venues where sort of the lower strata of the economy can benefit from it as well, at least to a limited extent, I think there are strong arguments to be made for that especially in the context of what I call skill games, for example Poker specifically, but as far as online, no I don't think Thailand would benefit greatly. In fact, I think would be a massive detriment to Thailand to see online gambling ubiquitous here in the Kingdom.