Published on September 07, 2005

The authority to issue border passes has been transferred from the Aranyaprathet district officer to Sa Kaew provincial officials, possibly “cutting the blood line” of the casinos across the border in Cambodia’s Poipet.

Aranyaprathet district officer Paktorn Tianchai said the reversion of power took effect last Thursday, in an attempt to prevent Thais from crossing the border to gamble in Poipet. The authority to issue border passes now rests with the deputy governor or another official acting on behalf of the governor.

Bamrung Lawjaroenwatana-chai, chairman of the Sa Kaew Chamber of Commerce, said the move could cost the jobs of some 1,000 Thais employed by Poipet casinos.

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