A public hearing is being held until November 22 to gather opinions from all sectors on a proposal by the Provincial Administration Department to amend gambling regulations by removing billiards, snooker and boxing from the list of gambling activities and reclassifying them as sports eligible for promotion.
Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan, deputy spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said the department had found that the current regulations were outdated and no longer reflected present-day realities or sports management practices in Thailand.
She said the regulations had been in place since 1935 and had not been regularly updated, creating obstacles to the development of some sports, including billiards, snooker and boxing.
Although billiards and snooker are recognised as professional sports under the Professional Sports Promotion Act, she said the gambling regulations prohibit underage youths from playing or practising these sports.
The proposed amendment aims to give Thai youths greater opportunities to play and practise billiards, snooker and boxing, she said.
Regarding boxing, she said the rules governing the sport would need to be upgraded to meet international standards, with oversight falling under the Sports Authority of Thailand.
The proposed amendment follows a Cabinet resolution on January 10 this year calling for public hearings before new regulations or a new bill are drafted.
Members of the public can submit their opinions through the www.law.go.th website until November 22.
