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. Thailands Online Sport Betting Law Explained. Brick and Mortar Gambling Law in Thailand. Horse racing in Bangkok and Thai Lottery are the only forms of gambling legal under Thailand Law. Online betting is however popular in Thailand because our police do not focus.

1. Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand Bangkok
2. Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand Now
3. Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand 2020
4. Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand Today

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]

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]

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand Bangkok

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]

• 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.

External links[edit]

Thailand has quite strict gambling laws but still remains extensively popular throughout the country both offline and online, although technically illegal in most cases.

Check out the legal situation below, starting with the key info you need to know regarding the law, and find out which betting sites accept Thai players online.

Best Thai Betting Sites

The following is a list of the best betting sites for residents of Thailand:

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand Now

NOTE: 188Bet has the best deposit success rate for Thailand!

Key Facts: Online Gambling In Thailand

• Most forms of gambling illegal.
• National lottery and thoroughbred racetracks in Bangkok legal.
• Thousands of illegal gambling houses exist throughout country.
• Thai players frequently use overseas betting sites.
• Punishment comes in the form of a small fine if caught.

Gambling Laws and Legislation Timeline

In spite of being very strict, Thailand’s gambling law is at least easy to understand. It can be ably summed up by the following timeline covering the passage of the country’s main pieces of legislation:

1935 – Gambling Act of B.E. 2478

Thailand’s Gambling Act of B.E. 2478 passed in 1935 is the main piece of legislation related to gambling within the country. The legislation prohibits all forms of gambling in Thailand and splits the different forms into List A or List B classifications.

List A activities include betting on blood sports and some casino games, and taking part in these activities carries the highest criminal penalties. List B activities are essentially everything else and have slightly less harsh penalties attached to them. The only activities exempt from this act are the national lottery and horse racing betting at thoroughbred racetracks in Bangkok.

1943 – Playing Cards Act of B.E. 2486

Passed in 1943, the Playing Cards Act of B.E. 2486 makes owning, manufacturing and selling playing cards illegal in Thailand. This is to help with the enforcement of the law banning gambling based card games like poker or blackjack.

1999 – Anti-Money Laundering Act of B.E. 2542

Aimed at the criminal offence of money laundering, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of B.E. 2542 also strengthens Thailand’s anti-gambling law in some specific circumstances.

Do Players Get Taxed On Winnings?

The above, therefore, gives a good account of the legal situation regarding gambling in Thailand. What’s left to discuss, then, is the attitude of the Thai authorities toward the taxation of gambling winnings.

The circumstances in that regard are that there is no framework through which the Thai government can levy taxes on gambling winnings, as for the most part gambling winnings cannot be earned legally. Fines, however, can be imposed upon punters found breaking the law by gambling and in extreme circumstances even prison sentences are possible.

Online Deposit Options & Methods

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand 2020

Betting or gambling online is illegal for Thai citizens in the same way that physically taking part in the activities within the country’s borders is also prohibited. There are, therefore, no legal and regulated domestic Thai websites with which punters can deposit money. Many overseas gambling providers, however, do still cater for Thai customers and many Thai citizens do take this avenue when it comes to online gambling.

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Thailand Today

This is still illegal but the Thai government have little jurisdiction over the foreign providers themselves. Betting sites which accept Thai players usually have a bank account in Thailand which players can deposit into, using a variety of methods, and then use to place bets online.