Don't bet on eradicating illegal gambling

As expected, last week saw colour and controversy when the government delivered its policy statement in Parliament. Personally, I thought the highlight was the protests against the alleged bias of House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, a nine-time MP from Khon Kaen.

Win some, lose all: Some years back, a police raid on a gambling den in Bangkok’s Ekamai Soi 30 netted more than 300 gamblers, including a number of tourists from China.

Known as "Khun Khawn" (or Gavel Master), Khun Somsak introduced the use of the gavel to end bickering among MPs when he was deputy House Speaker in 1997. But last week, he did not use it and chose instead to stand up when faced with difficult Democrat MPs.
In response and protest, the Democrats remained seated as the Speaker stood up. When he sat down, the Democrats stood up. This up-and-down performance was comical, to say the least.
But it was not as comical as the unfolding controversy ignited by Parliament's most colourful figure to date: Rak Thailand Party leader Chuvit Kamolvisit.
MP Chuvit played a video clip of a casino operating in the Sutthisan area (Ratchadaphisek Soi 18). It was the only performance which has produced a knock-on or ripple effect with its attention-grabbing mix of money, corruption, crime, politics and police.
At first the Metropolitan Police Bureau denied the casino existed. But they were dealing with the wrong man and Khun Chuvit quickly followed up by playing another video clip over the weekend showing furniture and equipment being moved. Police, caught with their pants down, had to admit its existence.
Sutthisan police chief and five senior officers were - yes, you've guessed it - transferred to proverbial inactive posts.
Now Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung has joined the fray, saying police have been given three days to clear Bangkok of all gambling dens, or other agencies will be asked to do the job instead.
Khun Chalerm said he would also propose a major revamp of the police if it failed to shut down the casinos. "I would consider putting the right men in the right jobs. But if doing that is not within the scope of my authority, I would ask the prime minister to make a decision," he said.
On paper, this looks like a good, although seemingly coincidental, combination. On the one hand we have Khun Chuvit, former owner of a string of massage parlours who knows how to bribe police. On the other we have Khun Chalerm, a former police officer who certainly knows the ins and outs of our law enforcement agency.
What we are likely to see in this current drama is perhaps another casino being closed or raided. But we all know that in the end, the bribery, corruption and protective political influence that go along with these gambling dens will continue. No one really knows how many gambling dens there are in this city. But the really big ones, backed with considerable political clout, are well known.
The most well-known and established ones operate in Taopoon and Pratuman districts. There's one along Rama 3 Road in the Chong Lom area. Another is located in the Pinklao area. These establishments remain open despite the current controversy. Others, like one in Lat Phrao, open and close depending on how the wind blows. And so the list continues.
These really big casinos operate because they have big-time political and police protection. The smaller ones operate along the same lines but with lesser clout. Any crackdown now and in the future will not shut down or wipe out these dens. Once the dust settles, they will be back and it will be business as usual.
Let's leave the song and dance aside and accept reality. Like it or not, Thai people - and many citizens of other countries around the world - like to gamble. If they cannot gamble legally at home, they will go abroad. And I don't mean Las Vegas. Just across from our Aranyaprathet province, there are nine casinos in Cambodia. One is owned by Cambodians, the rest are owned by Thais. In Burma's portion of the Golden Triangle area there are four casinos, while opposite Chanthaburi province, there are three. These are the places where Thais are going.
As long as gambling remains illegal, corruption, political influence and bribery of the police will continue. We must accept the fact that our police personnel are underpaid. Graft and extortion is used to finance some basic police operations as well as supplement incomes. Providing protection and owning shares in gambling dens is one major source of income.
Many of our neighbours, such as Singapore and Malaysia, have accepted reality and allowed casinos to be established. Like Macau, these governments have chosen to legalise and regulate - and earn income.
I admit that legalised casinos would not wipe out illegal gambling activities. Despite the legal lottery which millions of Thais buy every fortnight, illegal lottery bookmakers continue to conduct lucrative operations. They are able to do so because they provide better odds and higher returns.
There is no doubt that social problems persist as a result of gambling. We see it every day when Thais are embroiled in betting on football matches, on cock-fights, on boxing matches week in and week out. Crackdown after crackdown has not reduced the level of gambling. Other countries have legalised and regulated betting, and it is worthy of serious study.
Likewise, legalising casinos will not eradicate social problems. But making them legal means they can be regulated and should reduce the opportunity for corruption, bribery of police and shady use of political clout. The government will also have access to revenues it currently does not have.
Clearly, there are those who will vehemently disagree with my views, and the pros and cons of legalising casinos should be debated. But I believe that we must accept reality. Even those who oppose legalising casinos will have to admit that the current song and dance (or shadow play) we are witnessing will come to nought and, after a while, the cards will continue to flip-fall and the chips thrown across the blackjack or baccarat tables as usual.