The goal is to ensure safety, especially during the sale of the 2024 Christmas Lottery.
Costa Rica.- The Board of Social Protection (JPS) and the Ministry of Public Security (MSP) of Costa Rica have launched preventive security strategies, particularly in anticipation of the 2024 Christmas Lottery, the most important of the year.
According to reports to local media, the Public Force, together with officials from the JPS, will be deployed in different Costa Rican localities to provide greater protection at sales points and reinforce security measures.
The agreement between the entities will also allow agents contacted by dissatisfied buyers to have connection with the JPS inspectors to prepare an administrative report and assess whether the offense is serious enough to lose their credentials as authorized sellers.
The Minister of Security, Mario Zamora Cordero, highlighted the importance of these actions and assured that it is a sustained strategy for the benefit of citizens' security.
«The Public Force is committed to creating a safe environment for lottery sellers and their customers. This collaboration is not new, but a continuous strategy that seeks to protect the integrity of the community,» said Zamora.
The Public Force also called on citizens to stay alert to crowds at sales points, as they could be exploited by organized groups.
For its part, the JPS issued recommendations for buyers to verify the authenticity of their lottery tickets. Among them, they emphasized the importance of feeling the paper, which has specific security features, and observing the watermark, where the JPS logo and the National Lottery of Costa Rica can be distinguished.
Esmeralda Britton González, president of the JPS, emphasized that the entity promotes good purchasing habits and added: «Buyers have access to clear information about the tickets and should only purchase them at official prices at authorized points. We remind them that they can also make purchases through our online channels: www.jpsenlinea.go.cr».
According to authorities, the legislation could be finalized within one month.
Thailand.- Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong has reported that the cabinet has approved his proposal to legalize online gambling in the country.
According to the Bangkok Post, Prasert, who is also Thailand’s Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister, said that the government aims to finalize the legislation within a month.
The proposal involves modifying secondary laws established by ministers before any changes to major laws, which will require parliament's consent. Amendments to these secondary laws will also require collaboration between the DES, the Ministry of Interior, and the Council of State.
By legalizing online gambling, the government aims to boost the economy and eradicate illegal gambling activities. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had already suggested that regulating online gambling could benefit both the economy and society.
Thailand Prime Minister Pateogntarn Shinawatra announced on Monday (January 13) that the country’s cabinet approved the draft bill to legalize casinos. It will now be headed to the House of Representatives for further consideration. No specific timeline for its enactment has been set.
The draft bill to legalize casinos proposes 30-year casino licenses with the option for a 10-year renewal. Complexes would be located in designated areas and operated by companies registered in Thailand with a minimum paid-up capital of THB10bn (US$283m). Casino entry fees for Thai nationals have been set at THB5,000 (US$144). A policy panel led by the Prime Minister and a regulatory agency would oversee the industry.
According to a study by the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), the establishment of IRs could increase visits to Thailand by 5 to 20 percent and increase spending per visitor from THB40,000 (US$1,184) to THB60,000 (US$1,776).
The Council of State has raised six points of concern regarding the draft law:
1. The draft law focuses only on casino entertainment venues. This goes against the government’s goal to promote diverse tourist destinations that include water parks, amusement parks, shopping malls, concerts, festivals, and top sporting events.
2. If the law is going to focus only on “entertainment complexes”, it needs to clearly explain what this term means.
3. A study by the House of Representatives says entertainment complexes will help fight illegal gambling. However, the public sees entertainment complexes as places for various recreational activities, not just gambling. Current laws already regulate entertainment establishments. According to the report, the problem with illegal gambling comes from not enforcing these laws properly. So, they argue it’s unclear how the new law would solve the illegal gambling issue.
4. If the government aims to address illegal gambling or allow gambling in entertainment establishments, it could update the existing Gambling Act from 1935.
5. The finance ministry should clarify the goals of the draft law. This will help the Cabinet decide whether the law aims to develop tourist destinations or tackle illegal gambling, as these are two different objectives that require different legal approaches. They should also consider public opinion and feedback from relevant agencies, especially the Interior Ministry.
6. The public should receive accurate information about the draft bill to clear up misunderstandings about its goals before it is submitted to the Cabinet.
