Online gambling remains popular among Thailanders despite the economic setbacks being experienced by the country since the global pandemics. While Thailand is one of few countries to have successfully flattened the curve by strictly enforcing lockdown and other mitigation measures, fears of getting infected is still driving Thais to online gambling and shopping websites.
In the meantime, Thailanders are trying to live their day-to-day lives as normally as possible, whilst following health and safety guidelines that would prevent the COVID-19 contagion from spreading farther. While many are shopping online, they are also into recreating and engaging in online entertainment. Actually, many in Thailand have discovered their own brand of คาสิโนออนไลน์ (online casino) in which to play slots, roulette, baccarat or Sic Bo for real money betting entertainment.
That is notwithstanding the fact that in Thailand, the only form of legal gambling is lottery and horse betting. Yet when safety is the issue, gambling or gaming online is the safer alternative. Unlike in other Southeast Asian countries, Thai law enforcement authorities are not as vigilant in monitoring gambling activities transpiring in the Internet. After all, Thailand is also home to many Chinese citizens doing business in the country, whilst providing employment opportunities for locals.
Thai Prime Minister Demonstrates Transparency by Explaining the Economic Outlook of the Country
In a televised address in August 2020, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha explained to the people that the current economic crisis cannot be expected to go away quickly because the country is largely dependent on exports and tourism. Unfortunately, the economies of countries on which Thailand relies, are still unstable. Mainly because many of them are still struggling to address the health crisis being wrought by the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. .
As Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had put it:
“We are unable to escape the storm, as we are but a small boat in a big ocean caught in a global storm. “ “Thailand’s economy can return to normal only when the economies of the rest of the world have returned to normal”
Nonetheless, as the Kingdom of Thailand is ranked as the 8th largest in Asia, the government has been able to implement stimulus measures that included the release of a 1.9 trillion baht ((roughly about $61.21 billion) economic relief package. Currently, the Thai government’s thrust is to provide incentives that will motivate the people of Thailand to stay employed; including programs for youth employment as well as for businesses to remain competitive.
Fears of Infection Drove Growth E-Commerce and Online Gambling
The good news is that the e-commerce and online gambling sectors have been experiencing growth ever since the first case of infection was detected in Thailand. Apparently, fears of contracting the disease drove many Thailanders to do their shopping and recreation online. While Thailand’s e-commerce was already experiencing 8 to 10 percent growth in previous years, online sales continue to rise and is expected to reach as much as THB 1.530 trillion or USD $49 billion at the end of year 2020.