The important town on the Thai-Myanmar border—Dakili—is facing a social shock caused by the rapid expansion of casinos.
Since April this year, with the repeated situation in Myanmar, the number of casinos in Dakili has risen sharply. The gambling dens that were closed due to the tense war situation and crackdown by the authorities are now fully resurgent, with a scale even larger than before. The streets are brightly lit with casino lights, and gambling activities are conducted openly, becoming a new scene in the town.
What is more worrying is that these casinos have put forward "special requirements" in recruitment—young, beautiful, and females over 18 years old are preferred. A large number of local girls, as well as young people from northern Shan State fleeing the war, from places like Jiaomei, Xibu, and even Yangon, Mandalay, and Jingdong, have poured into Dakili. Although the salary offered by the casinos is tempting, providing living expenses, meal subsidies, and 10,000 to 15,000 Thai Baht (about 1.2 million Myanmar Kyat) per month, the hidden risks behind it make the residents uneasy.
The local people generally worry that the proliferation of casinos may directly affect public security. Theft, robbery, and even violent incidents have increased, and the social atmosphere is rapidly deteriorating due to the spread of gambling. Now, Dakili is at a crossroads: whether to allow the expansion of casinos or to introduce effective governance measures, which directly relates to public safety and quality of life.
Cambodian Influence Intervenes: Border Land Acquisition Raises Concerns
On August 27, the Thai-Cambodian border was stirred again. A Cambodian woman, Dara Rean, publicly revealed that a large amount of land in Tapaya County, Sajao Prefecture, Thailand (บ้านหนองจาน) is being acquired by Cambodian forces, intending to create a casino area on the border. This act has raised strong concerns among local people about Thailand's sovereignty.
Dara stated that although she is Cambodian, she is married to a Thai man and operates a resort in Sajao Prefecture. She has long witnessed the actions of the Cambodian side and believes that this is an organized and planned action. Local Cambodian villagers are gradually selling their land to a Cambodian named Kamnan Lee, who is consolidating the land to build a casino.
She pointed out that the recent gatherings and provocative actions by Cambodians at the border are not genuinely by local residents, but by hired outsiders, aiming to incite conflicts and create disputes. Dara emphasized, "I stand up because I understand and sympathize with the Thai people. These encroachments have lasted too long, Cambodia should acknowledge the facts and let the illegal land occupiers leave, as this land originally belongs to Thailand."
This revelation has further heated up the already tense situation on the Thai-Cambodian border. Local people worry that if the casino project is implemented, it may not only affect border security but also trigger a broader sovereignty dispute.
