Thais defy online gambling ban
28th March, 2008
People in Thailand are increasingly looking to make use of online casinos, despite the government's efforts to shut down such sites.
Casino news website onlinecasinoadvisory.com reported that the Thai department of special investigations (DSI) is currently trying to identify the operators of online casinos after official figures showed their popularity is soaring in the south-east Asian state.
Data from the DSI reportedly indicated that at least 10,000 subscribers use internet-based casino sites.
The site said that the case shows that it is becoming increasingly hard for countries to completely ban such sites. Instead, it pointed out that "the most logical reaction of government is to tax the hobby and enjoy a steady new revenue source, rather than waste funds fighting a battle that is unwinnable".
Recently, Thailand's new prime minister, Samak Sundaravej, called on parliament to legalise casino gambling in some tourist resorts.
At the time, Mr Sundaravej stressed the move was an effective way to "undermine the illegal casinos in Thailand".
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