Poll shows support for legal gambling dens

The poll was conducted from January 27 to February 5 and surveyed 1,929 people.

Asked about issues which caused the spread of Covid-19 (multiple choice):

92.55 per cent blamed illegal workers sneaking into the country;

86.30 per cent blamed illegal gambling dens;

63.36 per cent entertainment venues;

61.84 per cent celebrities' party;

60.58 per cent -- travelling in crowded places.

Asked about legal gambling dens' role in containing the spread of Covid-19:

51.63 per cent said it would not help;

30.12 per cent said it would help;

18.25 per cent said they were not sure.

Asked about the benefits of having legal gambling dens' (multiple choice):

81.97 per cent said the government can collect gambling taxes;

62.15 per cent said it reduced the problems of extortion and mafia behaviour;

58.14 per cent said the government can monitor gambling dens easily.

Asked about the weak points of legal gambling dens (multiple choice):

69.22 per cent said it would create more debt;

63.27 per cent said it was deceitful;

61.79 per cent said it would develop bad habits in the youth.

Regarding the opening of legal gambling dens in Thailand:

50.70 per cent agreed;

36.70 per cent disagreed;

12.60 per cent said they were not sure.

Regarding the respondents' interest in Thailand's legal gambling dens:

83.14 per cent said they were not interested;

16.86 per cent said they were interested.

Pornphan Buathong, an analyst at Suan Dusit Poll, said the opening of legal gambling dens in Thailand is a controversial issue since long.

She added that the majority of respondents agreed on opening legal gambling dens, hence the government should study the strong and weak points thoroughly. Otherwise, it would be a big problem in the future.