Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand

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GamblingIs Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand

I think all online gambling are illegal in Malaysia. But enforcing it is extremely difficult and there is not much the authorities can do if you choose gamble online especially when carried out in private using your own computer or mobile device. Online Betting in Thailand - Legality of Gambling Online for Thai's Thailand Gambling Sites and Laws - Gambling Judge Gambling, other than betting on horse races or the government-sponsored Thai lottery, is prohibited in Thailand. Online Betting in Thailand. Gambling is hugely popular in Thailand but online sports betting makes up just a small part of the overall action. The majority of gambling in Thailand happens underground, however it is estimated that over 60% of the Thai public engage in gambling. This means that all other forms of gambling and Casino ‘s in Thailand are illegal, this includes: poker, casinos, sports betting and bingo. Locals also enjoy betting on cockfighting and bullfighting, while these activities are illegal to gamble on too. Lovers of the game.

Thailand (ประเทศไทย), commonly called “The Land Of Smiles”, is a large and multi-cultural kingdom. You can find anything in Thailand, from Buddhist temples to exotic wildlife and spectacular islands. Alongside a fascinating history and a unique culture, Thailand is one of the only Asian countries to never be colonized by an empire – a testament to the proud nation!

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Is Gambling In Thailand Legal According To Law?

Besides Thailand’s government sponsored public lottery, and betting at either of the two horse racing tracks in Bangkok (the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and the Royal Turf Club), gambling is not a legal activity in Thailand. Although gambling is punishable by a jail term of up to a year and a fine of ฿1000 (one thousand thailand baht/THB), gambling is an extremely common activity in Thailand and is an accepted part of society. You see students playing thai-style rummy on plastic tables at their doorsteps just as often as you see young men and women playing online poker in an internet cafe.

Thailand Gambling Act (1935 or B.E.2478)

Gambling law in Thailand is regulated by the Gambling Act of B.E. 2478, which determines the following about gambling in Thailand:

Permission is forbidden to organize, to play or to gamble in games specified in List A annexed to this Act or similar games or any other bad games which the responsible Minister has issued a Ministerial Regulation naming as additional items of prohibition.

On ‘List A’, annexed to the act, are gambling games and activities including betting in connection with street games such as gum tud (guessing how many seeds are in both hands) and several Thai dice games. Also included is betting on contests between animals in which they are treated cruelly or tortured. An example of this would be cockfighting in which spurs or other sharp instruments are attached to the cocks’ legs. Similarly, dog fighting is illegal. Certain casino games, such as roulette and slot machines are also included.

Online Gambling In Thailand

Online gambling, which includes sports betting is prohibited in Thailand, as stated in the act (Thailand Gambling Act B.E.2478) and explanations given above. Most gambling websites are blocked by government run internet censorship software installed on the ISP level in Thailand, along with 34,000+ other types of web sites that are blocked for reasons such as “copyright infringement”. A lot of gambling websites that normally accept Thai players are instead redirected to w3.mict.go.th. Despite these restrictions, there are still many who gamble online in Thailand, and OnlineGambling.co will provide you the information you need to bet and gamble, no matter where you are located.

Best Online Bookmakers For Sports Betting In Thailand

Best Sports Betting Bookmakers For Thailand Players

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  • Accept Thai Baht currency & available in Thai language. Wide selection of sports. Great software.
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Can I Deposit Money Onto Sports Betting Websites From My Thai Bank Account?

Thailand based bank accounts and the debit & credit cards associated with them are renowned for blocking payments to online gambling websites. For example, the Be1st Visa Electron issued by Bangkok Bank does not work at online gambling sites, neither do the following banks and the cards associated with them:

  • Bank of Thailand
  • Bank of Ayudhya
  • Siam Commercial Bank
  • Kasikorn Bank
  • Bangkok Bank
  • Krung Thai Bank
  • CIMB Thai Bank
  • Siam City Bank
  • TMB Bank
  • UOB Bank
  • Kiatnakin Bank

Using Entropay in Thailand For Online Gambling Websites

As you can not use Thai bank accounts and debit cards to deposit and withdraw money to international online gambling websites, we reccomend using Entropay, a virtual VISA/Mastercard that allows you to easily deposit and withdraw cash to a semi-bank account/credit card that is accepted by all major gambling websites, including the sites listed on this website.

You can open up an Entropay account in USD, EUR, or GBP (we suggest using USD) and fund your virtual Card with your Thai debit/credit card. You’ll then need to register your card with Verified by Visa, or Mastercard Securecode, and once your account is funded you can use the Entropay Virtual Card to deposit at the betting and casino sites suggested above.

The real beauty of using Entropay is that you can keep you’re gambling activities online confidential. Your bank will only see that you deposited or received money from Entropay. You do not have to worry about deposits and withdrawals showing up on your monthly bank statement, something that could have negative legal (gambling is illegal in Thailand after all) and social implications.

Siamese gambling

Gambling, other than betting on horse races or the government-sponsored Thai lottery, is prohibited in Thailand.[1] The prohibition dates back to the Gambling Act 1935.[2] The Playing Cards Act prohibits private ownership of more than 120 playing cards without approval of the government. Nevertheless, illegal gambling in casinos (Thai: บ่อนการพนัน) and other forms of gambling still exist in Bangkok and some provincial towns.[3]

History[edit]

Gambling has long been a feature of Thai society. Local Siamese partook in more than 100 well known gambling games.[4] Some gambling forms such as betting on cockfights, bullfights and boat races are native to Siamese culture.[4]

The late-19th century marked a significant increase in the level of gambling in Siam. People started to gamble more frequently and a variety of games were introduced from foreign traders and immigrants, and gambling started to hit the mainstream. It was during that period that the Huay lottery was introduced from China and became popular in Siam.[4]

Over the course of decades the Government of Thailand allowed legal gambling dens. During the reign of King Rama III, the Government of Thailand promoted legal gambling dens as a source of revenue. These legal dens were then closed down to dampen criminal activity and bankruptcy related to gambling. During the reign of King Rama V gambling was forbidden in the south and all the remaining gambling venues were closed on 1 April 1917.

A gambling act was first passed in 1930 and revised in 1935. During the premiership of Khuang Aphaiwong, the ministry of finance was assigned by the government to legalize gambling in Pran Buri District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province and became an official promoter of gambling. However, this period of legalization of casinos did not last long. Under attack from the media and public, the government abandoned the attempt to earn additional revenue from casinos and prohibited gambling once again.[4]

Forms of gambling[edit]

Casinos[edit]

Despite laws against gambling, illegal casinos are widespread in Thailand. The first large-scale gambling houses were established in Ayutthaya by the government in the late-17th century or early-18th century as a result of the steady growth of Chinese population. During the 19th century the number of gambling houses grew in tandem with the population of Chinese immigrants. To promote the settlement and taxation of the Chinese population in Thailand, the Thai government turned a blind eye to gambling among Chinese immigrants. As a result of this inadvertent endorsement, local Siamese were encouraged to gamble as well. After the gambling act was first passed in 1930 casinos were banned completely and gambling was prohibited in Thai society.[3]

Is sports gambling legal in thailand 2020

Lottery[edit]

The lottery was introduced to Thailand by Chinese immigrants in 1820. Commonly known to the local as 'huay', the term is a direct translation of Chinese word huā (Chinese:花) :flower. In the beginning huay was mainly played among the community of Chinese immigrants in Thailand. It was then officially established during the reign of King Rama III to stimulate the circulation of currency as well as to generate national revenue.[3]

Government lottery[edit]

In the reign of King Rama VI, the government introduced lottery draws as a device for tax collection. In 1939 the government of Luang Phibun Songkram set up the Lottery Bureau to organize a regular monthly draw in Thailand. It was then extended to twice a month in 1989. Draws normally happen twice a month on the 1st and 16th. There are a total of 38 million tickets per round. 28 percent of the sales value of the lottery ticket is retained as government revenue, 12 percent in administration and management and 60 percent is returned to players as prizes.[3]

Gambling on sport[edit]

Football is the most recent form of illegal gambling in Thailand. As a result of technology such as online transactions, satellite TV, Internet, and mobile phone betting systems, football gambling has become widely spread among the population of Thailand. During the 2010 South Africa World cup, over 1,700 people were arrested for gambling offences.[4]

Online gambling[edit]

Online gambling is illegal in Thailand. In 2020, as a part of a campaign against online casinos, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society began to cooperate with other state agencies to block websites that provide such services. According to the ministry, more than 1 billion baht ($32 million) pass through these sites every year.[5] During a raid in October 2020, the largest group of people in the history of the country, who owned an online casino, was arrested. According to the head of the national police, the group used 38 bank accounts, spending through them at least 15 billion baht ($480m). Later a 190 websites were blocked, mostly online casinos and porn sites, including Pornhub. This ban sparked a wave of protests and accusations of censorship.[6]

Social issues[edit]

Thai society has long frowned on gambling. In Buddhism, gambling is one of four vices which lead to ruin. In Thai this concept is known as abaiyamuk (อบายมุข), the 'portals of hell'. For the layperson, gambling is something to be avoided if one wishes to be free from suffering. Thai people often cite an old proverb 'Ten lost to fire is not equivalent to one lost in gambling' which reflects the variety of social problems associated with gambling in Thai culture. This may include violent crime, financial problems, and gambling addiction. Despite the prohibition, gambling still remains a major part of Thai life. Thais often gamble in various ceremonies and festivals. According to Alan Klima's study of funeral casinos in present-day Thailand, gambling is used as an attraction for people to keep the deceased spirit company.[4]

There are only a few psychological services available to those addicted, the such as Ministry of Public Health's Center of Gambling Studies. For Thais, gambling—lotteries, casinos, football betting and other variants—are viewed as entertainment. Very few seek treatment from medical professionals as Thais often view gambling as a social problem rather than a medical issue.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^Mitchell, Angus; Christensen, Matthew; Krataykhwan, Ponpun (27 October 2013). 'GAMBLING IN THE KINGDOM, Part two'. Bangkok Post. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  2. ^'Gambling Act B.E.2478 (1935)'(PDF). Office of the Council of State. Archived from the original(PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  3. ^ abcdPhongpaichit, P., Piriyarangsan, S. Treerat, N. (1998). Guns, girls, gambling, ganja: Thailand's Illegal Economy. Chiang Mai, Thailand: Silkworm Books.
  4. ^ abcdefgWarren, J.A. (2013) Gambling: The State and Society in Thailand, c.1800–1945. Oxford: Routledge.
  5. ^Ministry seeks ways to solve online gambling problem
  6. ^'Outrage as Thailand bans Pornhub, other porn websites'. South China Morning Post. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.

Further reading[edit]

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand
  • Apinuntavech S (n.d.) เยาวชนกับการพนันในมุมมองของจิตแพทย์เด็กและวัยรุ่น Thailand:(n.p.).
  • Oxford Dictionary(2010) Manser, M.H., Yuan, Z., Liangbi, W., Yongchang, R., Jingrong, W. (Eds.): Pocket Oxford Chinese Dictionary. Oxford: OUP Oxford.
  • Apinuntavech S. (2012). Consequences and Associated Factors of Youth Gambling. Retrieved from http://www2.ph.mahidol.ac.th/research/thai/jmedassocthai/Vol95_Suppl6/S21-S29_MD31.pdf
  • Phongpaichit,P (1999). THAILAND'S ILLEGAL ECONOMY AND PUBLIC POLICY. Paper presented at Centre of Southeast Asian Studies: Kyoto University.
Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand

External links[edit]

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