- Published: 09/10/2012 at 05:17 PM
Parkdehans Himathongkom, a deputy government spokesman, said it was approved at the weekly meeting on Tuesday.
The NACC's proposal requires strict regulation of the online lottery, he said.
It must be implemented under tight state control with public benefits as the priority, not just profits.
Under the guideline, the National Lottery Office must ensure that the online lottery is executed with transparency and accountability.
Part of the proceeds from online lottery sales must be allocated for social programmes including public education against gambling.
The sale of lottery tickets to children is prohibited, and 12% of the net revenue would be used to benefit the public, Mr Pakdihans said.
Cash prizes from the online lottery would vary, depending on the number of tickets sold.
The NACC believed online sales would be able to address the problems of ticket overpricing and shortages. Since gamblers would buy tickets directly from the machines, this would eradicate money laundering and corruption issues.
However, there are still many organisations that oppose the government's move to legalise the online lottery.
Activists from several networks in May this year lpetitioned Senator Rossana Tohsittrakul, opposing the Government Lottery Office's proposed online lottery.
They argue the online lottery would allow young people easier access to gambling, lead to more debt and consequent problems, like crime and other social issues.
The online lottery proposal has been around for a long time. It was last shelved by the previous government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva. The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has promised to launch it this year.
Share your thoughts
- Discussion 1 : 10/10/2012 at 07:27 AM
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May I remind you that the two-three digit lottery was suspended because of lack of transparency, it emerged that the govt (era 2000 - 2005) was using the proceeds for a private slush fund. In any case, it's a handy way for them to raise money to dish out for 'social causes' (red: buy votes). The other day in a small Northern town I came upon a gambling table, about .12 active players, another 12 spectators, two 'Chinese' looking people as dealers, and lots of money changing hands. I counted about 130,000 baht, stakes were often made in thousand baht notes. These were people in a poor farming neighbourhood, they dressed poor, the average income in the areas is less than 5k a month, these are the rice farmers we are subsidizing with our hard earned tax money.
- Discussion 2 : 09/10/2012 at 11:07 PM
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The government says gambling is illegal.Thenit allows illegal gambling casinos all over the city run by police and politicians.Now it says online lotteries are ok .Pretty hypocritical for them to outlaw it yet allow their buddies to make money off it .Oh ya thats most things though right >
- Discussion 3 : 09/10/2012 at 11:03 PM
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To face it is much better than to avoid it !!!
- Discussion 4 : 09/10/2012 at 10:33 PM
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Gambling is gambling whatever form it's in. And it's a fact it produces more losers than winners. A lot more.
- Discussion 5 : 09/10/2012 at 09:20 PM
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Let me guess.... Very low prize money and income which somehow 'disappears' or is spent on 'management'?
from iPhone application.
- Discussion 6 : 09/10/2012 at 08:10 PM
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Why not make money out of gambling, people will only use black market bookies if it is not legal. Get some tax money back
- Discussion 7 : 09/10/2012 at 08:03 PM
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As the ‘house’, Casinos the world over rake in huge profits. The Thai government is the ‘house”. Although the guidelines stipulate that the online gambling must be “executed with transparency and accountability”, there has never been any precedent in Thai government where that has occurred in the past. Accountability in Thai government? Please! And some of the profits from the government’s lucrative lottery scheme must be spent to educate the people not to gamble? It’s simply more of a corrupt government preaching to the public not to be like the government. I thought this government promised to help the less fortunate people not create more ways to feed on their weaknesses to get more money from them. Anybody who thinks the profits from this lottery will be earmarked to help the country first must be all three monkeys, “Hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil” wrapped into one.
- Discussion 8 : 09/10/2012 at 07:57 PM
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Yet no mention of what percentage of sales will be allocated to the prize fund.
- Discussion 9 : 09/10/2012 at 07:43 PM
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How is this different than betting on a football game?
- Discussion 10 : 09/10/2012 at 07:13 PM
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As the ‘house’, Casinos the world over rake in huge profits. The Thai government is the ‘house”. Although the guidelines stipulate that the online gambling must be “executed with transparency and accountability”, there has never been any precedent in Thai government where that has occurred in the past. Accountability in Thai government? Please! And some of the profits from the government’s lucrative lottery scheme must be spent to educate the people not to gamble? It’s simply more of a corrupt government preaching to the public not to be like the government. I thought this government promised to help the less fortunate people not create more ways to feed on their weaknesses to get more money from them. Anybody who thinks the profits from this lottery will be earmarked to help the country first must be all three monkeys, “Hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil” wrapped into one.
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