Thai anti-gambling groups back snooker reclassification but raise enforcement concerns

Support is growing for the removal of snooker from gambling laws.

Thailand.- Anti-gambling advocates have expressed support for the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) proposal to reclassify snooker as a sport in Thailand. Current regulations classify snooker as a gambling-related activity, which limits participation, but renewed interest, driven in part by Thepchaiya Un-Nooh’s international success, has prompted calls for reforms.

Public health expert Wasin Pipatnachat said authorities must clearly separate sport from gambling. He said that informal betting linked to matches remains a concern amid weak enforcement mechanisms and said that any reform must address both legal definitions and enforcement.

Meanwhile, Thanakorn Komkrit, head of the Anti-Gambling Foundation, has backed the reclassification but suggested a ministerial order rather than a full legislative amendment. He warned that changes to the Gambling Act could prove complex and said that strict safeguards will be needed to eliminate betting from snooker if it is recognised as a sport. He called for coordinated discussions between authorities and industry stakeholders.

See also:

See also: Thai body to request reclassification of snooker as sport rather than gambling

Support is growing for the removal of snooker from gambling laws. Thailand.- Anti-gambling advocates have expressed support for the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) proposal to reclassify snooker as a sport in Thailand. Current regulations classify snooker as a gambling-related activity, which limits participation, but renewed interest, driven in part by Thepchaiya Un-Nooh’s international success,…