Thai Authorities Threaten ISPs Over Internet Casinos
The shocking suicide of a twelve-year-old boy has led to the Thai Criminal Court ordering 72 websites it says promotes online gambling and computer games to be shut down. After the child jumped from a sixth-floor balcony when his father forbid the playing of Internet games, the court told the Information and Communications Technology Ministry to close sites listed as promoting addictive computer games, including online betting.
The Department of Special Investigation said it would notify the country's Internet service providers about Thursday's court order. Deputy Chief Suchart Wong-anandchai said ISPs found to have encouraged or simply provided online gambling access would face loss of license, fines, and even prison time.
Bundit Sornpaisarn, director of the Rajanagarindra Child and Adolescent Mental Health Institute, said aggressive children who had gaming habits are more likely to attempt suicide than others. However, rather suggest a ban on games, he said discipline must be instilled at an early age.
Bundit suggested that parents had a duty to control their own emotions and listen to their children. He said positive communication is the best way to treat adolescent gaming issues.
Some lawmakers are arguing the court's order is illegal under current statutes, and that there is no jurisdiction to close the online casinos. But emotion is running high, causing the backlash to jump from computer games to online gambling.
