Stop Gambling Foundation gathering 50,000 signatures to dump casinos

THE Stop Gambling Foundation together with 200 partner organisations are gathering 50,000 signatures for their petition to the Pheu Thai-led government to stop opening casinos within the planned entertainment complex projects and hold a referendum on this issue first before making any move, Naewna newspaper said.

At a press conference on the topic “People move forward to hunt for 50,000 signatures, no to casinos, must hold referendum” at Miracle Grand Convention Hotel which was also attended by people from various professions and students the foundation said big capitalists would benefit from these casinos with the general public and global economy likely being impacted.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Chittawan Chanagul, Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, said it is wrong to use vice to push economic policies.

Casinos are illegal in both China and the Philippines and even though Chinese people travel to other countries to gamble leading to huge amounts of money being drained out Chinese leader Xi Jinping still would not allow them to be set up in the country with this clearly showing that they severely affect the economy, he pointed out.

This then makes it essential to hold a referendum like any other civilised country, he said, adding no political party had campaigned on bringing underground gambling above ground yet now it is the government policy to open casinos which is considered to be dishonest to the people.

Pursuing a policy that is not part of any political party’s campaign platform is something for the Election Commission to look into, he said.

Ms. Nattharin Kasemsanpipat, whose nickname is Ja-eh Oxygen of the Poor, said she is not very knowledgeable but did not agree with introducing casinos in the country because politicians had campaigned on various policies but none had mentioned legalising casinos.

Moreover, saying a referendum is not necessary demeans the people because the country belongs to the people, she added.

Mr. Thanakorn Komkrit, secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, said no less than 50,000 signatures are being gathered for this petition with the government urged to hold one within 120 days of receiving it.

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The press conference held by Stop Gambling Foundation and their allies at Miracle Grand Convention Hotel today, Jan. 29, 2025. Photos: Naewna