Government "insiders" have given their backing to a proposal for a casino in Pattaya, says Saen Suk municipality mayor Somchai Khunpluem.

Better known as Kamnan Poh, the former kamnan is an influential local and the father of Tourism and Sports Minister Sonthaya Khunpluem who supports the plan.

Mr Somchai, casino proposal scrutiny panel chairman Yuwarat Kamolvej and Royal Bangkok Sports Club director Anothai Uthensut were speaking during a debate, "Will Pattaya Have a Casino?" at a local hotel yesterday.

The mayor said it was certain Pattaya would get a casino though no-one in the government dared admit it publicly for fear of resistance and losing support.

The casino would cost about 20 billion baht from Singaporean, Australian and Hong Kong investors.

In the first 3-5 years, the casino would be run at the Ambassador City Jomtien hotel, which is near the town, has up to 5,000 rooms and big parking lots.

The hotel would be offered one million baht a day as leasing fee but it had to reserve 50% of rooms for casino customers.

No official agreement has been reached yet on leasing fees because the hotel earns up to 600 million baht a year and may ask for higher fees. Further talks must be held.

After that, a 25-year leasing contract might be drawn up or the investors might find a new location.

"But it is sure that Thai people are not ready to have their own casino business since they cannot afford to pay very high protection fees," he said.

Mr Anothai supported the plan, saying Thailand was ready to have legal casinos as they would create jobs and generate revenue for the country.

Mr Yuwarat said laws were needed to regulate casinos. However, the emergence of legal casinos would not lead to fewer gambling dens in the country.