The Politics of the Policy Advocacy Process for Casino Legalization in Thailand from 2008 to 2024
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
This research article examines (1) the actors involved in the policy advocacy process for casino legalization in Thailand from 2008 to 2024; investigates (2) the political factors through the problem stream, policy stream, and political stream leading to the mobilization of the casino legalization policy in Thailand; and studies (3) an appropriate approach and the impact on the mobilization of the casino legalization in Thailand. The researcher employed the qualitative research approach. Data were collected using the techniques of documentary research and in-depth interview with twelve key informants. Data were analyzed using the technique of content analysis. Findings are as follows: (1)The actors involved in the policy advocacy process for the casino legalization in Thailand from 2008 to 2024 include; The public sector focused on stimulating economy and tourism but faced obstacles from moral concerns and the social impact. The private sector supported with an emphasis on the economic benefits and the business development. The civil society had both supporters who saw opportunities and opponents who were concerned with the social impact. (2) There were political, economic, and social factors as well as the need to manage gambling problems especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which severely affected the Thai economy. Legal casinos were proposed as an alternative to stimulate the economy and increase the revenue. Providing knowledge regarding gambling risks. Establishing counseling and treatment centers for people with gambling problems as well as providing psychological support. Strict supervision and the enforcement of the law. (3) Although casino legalization would attract foreign investment and stimulate tourism, the impact on domestic consumption and savings needs to be carefully considered, especially in the situation of high household debts. The determination of the measures to control the access of the Thais and the promotion of financial discipline are important. Comprehensive impact studies should be conducted. If the mobilization needs to be realized, it is important to prepare for all aspects including the laws, monitoring systems, impact preventive measures, and fostering an understanding with society. The mobilization of this policy must therefore foster the balance between the economic benefits and social protection through strict control, public participation, and transparent communication in order to ensure acceptance and long-term sustainability.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The article published in the journal is the opinion and responsibility of the authors. Not related to Kanchanarat Law Office.
References
รติมา คชนันทน์. (2566). การพิจารณาเปิดสถานบันเทิงแบบครบวงจรในประเทศไทย. ค้นจาก https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14156/2005948
สำนักงานเลขาธิการสภาผู้แทนราษฎร. (2565). รายงานผลการพิจารณาศึกษาญัตติ เรื่อง การศึกษาการเปิดสถานบันเทิงแบบครบวงจร (entertainment complex) การจัดเก็บรายได้และภาษีจากธุรกิจกาสิโนถูกกฎหมาย และมาตรการในการป้องกันและแก้ไขปัญหาบ่อนการพนันผิดกฎหมาย การแพร่ระบาดของตู้เกมพนันไฟฟ้าและการพนันออนไลน์. ค้นจาก https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14156/600975
สำนักงานเลขาธิการสภาผู้แทนราษฎร. (2567). รายงานผลการพิจารณาศึกษา เรื่อง ศึกษาการเปิดสถานบันเทิงครบวงจร (entertainment complex) เพื่อแก้ปัญหาการพนันผิดกฎหมายและเพื่อประโยชน์ด้านเศรษฐกิจของประเทศ. ค้นจาก https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14156/620133
สำนักงานเลขาธิการสภาผู้แทนราษฎร. (2568). ร่างพระราชบัญญัติการประกอบธุรกิจสถานบันเทิงครบวงจร พ.ศ. .... ค้นจาก https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14156/2005815
Crawford, B. (1998). The causes of cultural conflict: assessing the evidence. In B. Crawford & R. D. Lipschutz (Eds.), The myth of “ethnic conflict”: Politics, economics, and “cultural” violence (pp. 513-561). University of California at Berkeley, International and Area Studies.
Dye, T. R., & Zeigler, L. H. (1981). The irony of democracy: An uncommon introduction to American politics (5th ed.). Duxbury Press.
Field, G. L., & Higley, J. (1980). Elitism. Routledge.
Freeman, R. E. (2010). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach. Cambridge University Press.
Higley, J. (2010). Elite theory and elites. In K. T. Leicht & J. C. Jenkins (Eds.). Handbook of politics: State and society in global perspective (pp. 161-176). Springer.
Huntington, S. P. (1968). Political order in changing societies. Yale University Press.
Kingdon, J. W. (1984). Agendas, alternatives, and public policies. Little, Brown.
Korn, D. A., & Shaffer, H. J. (1999). Gambling and the health of the public: Adopting a public health perspective. Journal of Gambling Studies, 15(4), 289-365.
Lowndes, V. (2002). Institutionalism. In D. Marsh & G. Stoker (Eds.), Theory and methods in political science (2nd ed., pp. 90-108). Palgrave Macmillan.
Mills, C. W. (1956). The power elite. Oxford University Press.
Peters, B. G. (2019). Institutional theory in political science: The new institutionalism (4th ed.). Edward Elgar Publishing.
Putnam, R. D. (1976). The comparative study of political elites. Prentice Hall.
Sabatier, P. A., & Jenkins-Smith, H. C. (1993). Policy change and learning: An advocacy coalition approach. Westview Press.
Selznick, P. (1996). Institutionalism “old” and “new”. Administrative Science Quarterly, 41(2), 270-277.
Tullock, G. (2001). Efficient rent seeking. In A. Lockard & G. Tullock (Eds.), Efficient rent-seeking: Chronicle of an intellectual quagmire (pp. 3-16). Springer.
Varvasovszky, Z., & Brugha, R. (2000). A stakeholder analysis. Health Policy and Planning, 15(3), 338-345.
Walker, D. M. (2007). The economics of casino gambling. Springer.
