Is this true: prostitution illegal in Pattaya??

[AsDaRa]

In preparation for our holiday in October to Pattaya I just came across a website which claims prostitution is illegal in Thailand.
This surprises me a lot. Don't many Western gay men and hetero men who go to Pattaya 'buy' young men and women?
Pattaya is the sex capital of the world. How can prostitution be illegal? Is this really true?

If it is true. How does it work then to pick up a gay Thai from say a gogobar? There is no prize negotiation, so legally it is no prostitution, but afterwards you are still silently assumed to pay the boy?
But how then to know - if you pick someone up - that he expects money? A lot of times (certainly when you are still young) it isn't too weird to assume if you pick someone up he isn't expecting money, but just lusts after your body.
So how to know this then? Look if I was 60 and a 20 year old gay Thai came to me, then I am pretty sure he expects money, but I am not that old. So how does this work?

It was a shock when I read prostitution is illegal there. I don't want to commit a crime. But it is so hard to believe.

[Manforallseasons]

It is true for all of Thaland but even more so for trolls.

[AsDaRa]

It is true for all of Thaland but even more so for assholes.

But how is this compatible with what we all read about Pattaya? There is prostitution all over!! How does it work? Or is there official policy to not enforce the law?

Or is there official policy to not enforce the law?
Actually there's unofficial policy not to enforce the law supported by a widespread practice of "tea money" paid to police. Now that the Army had tken over with the express sim of wiping out all corruption you can expect to be arrested any time you engage with a prostitute anywhere in Thailand. Best not to risk it. Holiday somewhere else. Prague maybe. Or Kiev sounds nice.

[RichLB]

Pattaya is the sex capital of the world. How can prostitution be illegal? Is this really true?

If it is true. How does it work then to pick up a gay Thai from say a gogobar?

But how then to know - if you pick someone up - that he expects money?

It is true that technically prostitution is illegal in Thailand. However, it is not a law which is enforced. Note that gogobars do not provide prostitutes - they provide hosts who are free to make whatever arrangements they like with a customer. The bar will charge you an "off fee" to compensate the bar for the loss of service from the guy while he goes with you - this is NOT payment for sexual services. It is important to remember that the boy is not obligated to go with a customer or to do anything sexual if he does not want to. However, almost without exception the Thai guys are in the bar working for tips and will want to go with customers. And your final question relates how to know if payment is expected. Well, if you're a farang of any age, the boy will expect a tip for spending time with you. There are exceptions, but they are few and far between so you'd be wise to clarify money matters before leaving the bar. Hope this helps.

[joe552]

Two of our youngest members, Christian and NIrish guy both have to pay - and they are both devilishly handsome, (or so I've been told) :))

[AsDaRa]

There are exceptions, but they are few and far between so you'd be wise to clarify money matters before leaving the bar. Hope this helps.

About "clarifying money matters". How? You can't ask "how much do you want me to tip you for giving me a blow job? ". That is asking for prostitution. So you are supposed to just aks "how much do you want me to tip you for entertaining me tonight?". I mean the last can be understood also in another way. Is this how it is done?

Are foreigners arrested often when they 'clarify money' matters and during this process clearly hint they expect sexual services from the young man?

Is it true what the other poster says that the arrest risk is now higher when you pay a gay Thai escort, than it was before the recent coup?

[RichLB]

About "clarifying money matters". How? You can't ask "how much do you want me to tip you for giving me a blow job? ".

Are foreigners arrested often when they 'clarify money' matters and during this process clearly hint they expect sexual services from the young man?

Is it true what the other poster says that the arrest risk is now higher when you pay a gay Thai escort, than it was before the recent coup?

Ok, a couple issues with your first question. If you do ask the boy how much he wants, the answer will undoubtedly be, "Up to you." As crass as it sounds it is far better to just ell the guy how much you wish to tip him (different sum for short time and for long time). And for the second part of the question, sure you can tell the guy what sexual acts you expect from him. Don't be shy. He's heard it all before and if he doesn't "do that" it's far better to find out before leaving the bar.

As to your second question, I've lived here for 15 years and have never heard of any farang being arrested for hiring sexual services from and over 18 year old guy. It just doesn't happen. BUT, remember to make sure the guy is over 18. There are severe penalties for having sex with a minor.

And finally, as to the "risks" of arrest rising due to the coup...I don't know everything, obviously, but since there was virtually no risk before the coup and no one has been arrested for hiring a legal age prostitute yet, the coup has had no effest on gay life here.

[AsDaRa]

[
As to your second question, I've lived here for 15 years and have never heard of any farang being arrested for hiring sexual services from and over 18 year old guy. It just doesn't happen. BUT, remember to make sure the guy is over 18. There are severe penalties for having sex with a minor.

We will only go to gogobars and massage salons and the like. So official venues. I am sure the owners don't let underage boys work there? Is there really a risk your boy happens to be only say 17 year old when you only plan to go to official venues? We don't plan to pick them up from the street or so. But thanks for the tip; I will ask for ID in case of any doubt.

[RichLB]

So official venues. I am sure the owners don't let underage boys work there? Is there really a risk your boy happens to be only say 17 year old when you only plan to go to official venues?U
Unfortunately meeting a guy in an "official venue" is no guarantee. There are some bars notorious for being staffed by boys way underage. Don't believe the mamasan, other boys in the bar, or anything else other than an id. If the boy doesn't have an id (which won't be true), select another guy.

[francois]

It is true for all of Thaland but even more so for trolls.

Good one Manforallseasons!

My question is "which is worse, the trolls or the ones who keep feeding them as seen above"?

[gumblebee]

It is true that technically prostitution is illegal in Thailand. However, it is not a law which is enforced.
I remember reading the police occasionally arrest ladyboys on beach road, for prostitution (though I understand another reason might be that some of the ladies in question are troublesome at times).

Unless I'm mistaken, prostituting oneself is illegal ; quite unfairly, there's no penalty for paying a prostitute for his/her services.

There's a few countries where the situation is the other way round. Sweden comes to mind, I believe they even amended the law so it also applies to Swedes abroad. A fine example of a law that disproportionally targets men. The French were working on similar legislation ; it stalled in the French Senate (they had a visit of the Femen vixens quite recently).

[scottish-guy]

.....Note that gogobars do not provide prostitutes - they provide hosts who are free to make whatever arrangements they like with a customer. The bar will charge you an "off fee" to compensate the bar for the loss of service from the guy while he goes with you - this is NOT payment for sexual services..

=))

IF the law were ever (fairly) enforced, I think any go-go bar owner would have a little difficulty with that extremely flimsy defence. It is like the brothel Madam claiming she only answers the doorbell!