OPINION

Bet on trouble

Re: "Senate shoots down casino bill", (BP, Sept 24). I note that in your article, Senator Vichaya Suwannaprom cites Sydney, Australia, and its casino access policies as a potential model for Thailand. As an avid reader currently residing in Sydney, I would be remiss if I did not make the following observations about our two casinos.

While the Barangaroo "Crown" Casino is technically restricted, residents can gain access by enrolling in a loyalty programme that encourages gambling. New members are subject to a mandatory seven-day lockout before their cards become active, and membership is maintained through regular engagement. The casino features higher-stakes tables and no gaming ("pokies" or "slot") machines, which can amplify potential losses.

The Star Casino, by contrast, is open to anyone over 18. It features gaming machines and tables ranging from small to large bets. Operating 24 hours a day, it has earned a reputation as a venue rife with drunken, or even accusations of recreational drug use and financial issues by patrons under the influence. It is, frankly, a blight on an otherwise stellar international city.

Given these realities, the Thai Senate would benefit not only from consulting key stakeholders in Sydney about the social impact of these casinos but also from visiting both venues late on a Friday night to witness firsthand their effects on the community.

Finally, any economic benefit from casinos is minimal compared with the significant social costs: increased domestic and personal violence, public health problems, and widespread financial distress. A casino is a slippery slope for any society. Thailand should think twice before establishing one.

World on its own

Re: "No new world order, only global disorder", (Opinion, Sept 9).

Columnist Gwynne Dyer is absolutely right! America has dominated the world since the end of World War II. But as Mr Dyer points out, this rules-based order is now under threat after the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States.

Mr Trump has now initiated an "America first" policy, no longer caring about acting as a guardian for the rest of the world. So the other countries in the world now have to fend for themselves and come up with their own policies and alliances.

But as of yet, there has not been one solution to this disorder. The talk about China emerging is all hogwash. Each country and region is doing whatever it can to prosper. Discussing Asean acting as a bulwark is futile, as the member states have been unable to even come to an agreement on how to resolve the Myanmar quagmire, let alone agree on other issues.

So the Americans remain the sole superpower of the globe in a world that they no longer really care about.

Safety first in golf

Re: "Caddie dies after being hit by lightning on golf course", (BP, Sept 23).

When does a golf club start taking the safety of all into consideration? If it rains, golf should stop altogether, or clubs should build huts for safety.

Follow the rules of cricket with rain stopping play.