NIDA poll: the majority of Thais oppose the legalization of casinos and online gambling, as well as a referendum on the subject in Thailand
According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration of Thailand (NIDA), most of the country’s citizens oppose the government’s plans to build an entertainment complex with a casino and the legalization of online gambling.
The survey, conducted by telephone interviews from Jan. 20 to 21, surveyed 1,310 respondents over 18 years old, representing various levels of education, income, and occupations across the country.
The question about building an integrated entertainment complex with a casino drew mixed reactions. 59.19% of respondents strongly opposed the construction of the complex and casino, while 28.93% supported both initiatives.
Notably, 8.63% supported the construction of an entertainment complex without a casino, demonstrating interest in the development of the entertainment industry but with the restriction of gambling. A small part of respondents (1.68%) refrained from commenting, and 1.60% were exclusively in favor of building a casino without the accompanying entertainment infrastructure.
The attitude of Thais to the legalization of online gambling was even more unambiguous. 58.32% of respondents strongly opposed this government initiative. Only 19.92% supported the legalization of online betting, 11.45% rather agreed, and 10.31% rather disagreed. This distribution of responses clearly shows the public disapproval of online gambling in Thailand.
NIDA also surveyed citizens’ opinions on referendums on these issues. More than half of the respondents (51.07%) were against holding referendums on the construction of a casino complex and the legalization of online gambling. 37.86% supported referendums on both issues.
A small portion of the survey participants – 5.11% and 3.89%, respectively – supported holding a referendum on the construction of the complex or only on the legalization of online betting. Less than 2% of respondents found it difficult to answer or refrained from commenting.
The topic of gambling legalization has already sparked heated discussions in Thai society on several occasions. In September 2024, about 50 members of the Anti-Casino Youth Network held a protest march from Makkhawan Rangsan Bridge to the Government House in Bangkok, expressing opposition to the bill to legalize casinos. This indicates serious public concern and the potential for the issue to become the subject of further political debate.
The results of the NIDA survey provide valuable information on Thai society’s attitudes towards gambling. The high percentage of opponents of casino and online gambling legalization indicates the need for the government to consider public opinion when making a final decision. Further steps by the authorities in this direction will be closely monitored by both the public and the expert community.
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