Majority of Thais Oppose Legalisation of Casinos and Online Gambling
A recent NIDA poll shows widespread opposition to the Thai government's plans to legalise casinos and online gambling.
A nationwide poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) reveals that the majority of Thai voters oppose the government's initiative to legalise casinos and online gambling.
The survey, conducted on January 20-21, 2025, gathered responses from 1,310 individuals aged 18 and older.
According to the findings, nearly 60 percent of respondents expressed opposition to the proposal to allow entertainment complexes with casinos in the country.
Only 28.93 percent supported the plan, while 8.63 percent supported the complexes but not the casinos.
A small percentage of voters (1.60 percent) supported casinos but not the entertainment complexes.When it comes to the government's push to legalise online gambling, 58.32 percent of respondents were strongly opposed, with just under 20 percent expressing high support.
A majority also disagreed with the idea of holding a public referendum on the issue, with 51.07 percent opposed to a national vote on both casinos and online gambling.
The poll comes after the Thai Cabinet approved a bill allowing the establishment of entertainment complexes with casinos, and Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Chanthararuangthong announced plans to amend laws to legalise underground online gambling in the country.
The survey, conducted on January 20-21, 2025, gathered responses from 1,310 individuals aged 18 and older.
According to the findings, nearly 60 percent of respondents expressed opposition to the proposal to allow entertainment complexes with casinos in the country.
Only 28.93 percent supported the plan, while 8.63 percent supported the complexes but not the casinos.
A small percentage of voters (1.60 percent) supported casinos but not the entertainment complexes.When it comes to the government's push to legalise online gambling, 58.32 percent of respondents were strongly opposed, with just under 20 percent expressing high support.
A majority also disagreed with the idea of holding a public referendum on the issue, with 51.07 percent opposed to a national vote on both casinos and online gambling.
The poll comes after the Thai Cabinet approved a bill allowing the establishment of entertainment complexes with casinos, and Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Chanthararuangthong announced plans to amend laws to legalise underground online gambling in the country.
