Social media posts falsely claim Thai PM 'prepares to legalise casinos and online gambling'
- Published on October 5, 2023 at 09:51
- 5 min read
- By Chayanit ITTHIPONGMAETEE, AFP Thailand
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A photo of Srettha in a blue shirt was published on Facebook on September 18 with text in Thai that reads: "Online gambling investors rejoice! The PM is preparing to legalise casinos and gambling websites. Thirty percent tax. Create jobs and increase the country's revenue."
The post has a caption in Thai that voices support for the plan. It has since been shared over 2,500 times
Other posts that also shared the false claim appear to be less supportive of the proposal to "legalise gambling in Thailand".
A Facebook post published on September 26 shared another photo of Srettha wearing a suit and yellow necktie.
"Within two weeks, the PM will meet with the cabinet to discuss legalising casinos and online gambling sites in Thailand," text in the picture reads.
The post's caption goes on to read: "Is legalising casinos that necessary? Can it really benefit our country? Why don't you come up with something better than this? It destroys people's life."
Another Facebook post published on September 28 also shared the same photo with a sarcastic caption: "Thailand already legalised cannabis and next is gambling. The Pheu Thai party takes seriously about solving the country's problem -- by legalising casinos. Yay."
The claim surfaced after Thailand's junta-appointed senate blocked former Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat's bid to become prime minister even though his party won the most seats in the House of Representatives election in May.
The runners-up of the election -- the Pheu Thai party -- formed a coalition with some pro-military parties in August while Srettha was endorsed as prime minister (archived link).
AFP reported the news sparked a small protest outside Pheu Thai's headquarters. Protesters threw paper fliers with pictures of the Pheu Thai party leader Chonlanan Srikaew and signs calling on him to resign.
The false claim was also shared on Facebook here, here, here, here, and here.
However, a Thai government official has said the prime minister does not have plans to legalise gambling in the country.
Photos with false claims
Wetang Phuangsup, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), said in a statement published on September 20 that the claim was "not true" and was considered "fake news."
"Currently, the government has no plans to legalise casinos and online gambling nor implemented a policy to do so with 30 percent tax as claimed," reads the statement, which has been published on the websites of Government House and the government-run website Anti-Fake News Centre Thailand (archived links here and here).
AFP has also found the two photos used in the false posts were taken from unrelated events.
The photo of Srettha in a blue shirt appeared on September 13 in a post on his Facebook account (archived link).
The post's caption said he addressed the public about economic stimulus measures, which included reducing energy costs, waiving visas for Chinese tourists and paying civil servants twice a month starting January 1, 2024. He did not mention legalising casinos and online gambling.
Below is a screenshot comparison between the false post (left) and Srettha's Facebook post on September 13 (right):
News outlet Thai PBS and the government's National News Bureau also published photos of Srettha wearing the same blue shirt on September 13 (archived links here and here).
The other photo of Srettha wearing a yellow tie was originally posted by Thai broadcaster Channel 7 on its Facebook page on September 15 (archived link).
The photo shows Srettha in a suit and yellow necktie, matching the one in false claims.
Text in the photo said the prime minister would explain how the government planned to fund a cash handout within two weeks -- referring to an announcement that Thai citizens aged 16 or above would receive 274 dollars in digital cash handouts as a part of the plan to stimulate the economy (archived link).
The broadcaster published a post on its Facebook page on September 27 saying the photo had been edited to spread false news (archived link).
"There is no text 'PM is meeting with the cabinet to discuss legalising casinos and online gambling in Thailand' in the second and third lines," the Facebook post reads. "Modification made to the photo and text does not from Channel 7's news editorial team whatsoever."
Below is a screenshot comparison between the false post (left) and Channel 7's Facebook on September 15 (right):
AFP cannot find credible news reports that Thailand planned to legalise casinos and online gambling sites.
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