A survey on the pros and cons of casinos in Thailand showed that most of the residents polled favor a legal gaming industry. According to local media outlet the Thaiger, 3,296 people were surveyed, all living near potential locations of legal casinos and integrated resorts. Almost 81 percent agreed that casinos should be legalized.
The survey also indicated that people want casino resorts to include amenities such as retail stores (64 percent), spas (40 percent), and banks and financial institutions (39 percent). 37 percent want a standalone casino complex, while 57 percent prefer a legal casino located in Bangkok or other areas close to international airports.
Some of those polled pointed to possible drawbacks, such as increased debt (53 percent) and foreign involvement in the resort complexes (40 percent). Per Asia Gaming Brief, 55 percent of respondents cited the potential for increased crime.
The country’s Casino Committee will submit the survey results to the president of the National Assembly on July 27, said spokesman Jakkapon Tangsuttitham. The results were published just weeks after the committee revealed a plan to develop five casinos nationwide, one in each of its five regions.
Thailand remains one of only three ASEAN nations without legal casinos, alongside the Muslim-majority nations of Indonesia and Brunei, although it’s been estimated that up to half of Thai adults gamble illegally. With a population of almost 70 million, Thailand is the world’s 20th-most populous country.
