Lawmakers will reportedly withdraw a bill to legalize Thai casinos this week amid political turmoil in the country.
Bloomberg reports that a withdrawal motion is set for July 9 following Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s suspension last week. The bill has faced growing opposition with Parit Wacharasindhu, spokesman of the opposition People’s Party calling for its withdrawal. Wacharasindhu commented, “If the government sincerely considered the concerns raised by opposition parties and segments of the public, it should withdraw the bill.”
Thanakorn Khomkrit, Secretary-General of the Stop Gambling Foundation, led a rally at Government House, submitting a petition to the suspended PM, warning that the bills could deepen social and political division.
Khomkrit stated, “With Thailand grappling with economic storms, political whirlwinds, and environmental tempests, advancing this bill risks tearing the social fabric.”
Thailand In Political Turmoil
Thailand’s PM was suspended over a leaked call with Cambodian leader Hun Sen. Paetongtarn, the daughter of exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, criticized a Thai military commander in the call, and faced intense backlash at a time of military tension on the Thai-Cambodian border.
Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from the ruling coalition with Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai Party on June 18, substantially weakening the government. The withdrawal in protest at Paetongtarn’s remarks also led to the resignations of its ministers, including Deputy PM Anutin Charnvirakul and others.
The current political climate makes it impossible to advance controversial legislation, such as the casino bill. The bill to legalize entertainment casino complexes was scheduled for a reading on July 9, but it is expected that this will either be indefinitely delayed or the bill will be withdrawn completely.
Minister Chousak Sirinil, an influential figure within the Prime Minister’s Office, commented, “To withdraw it, approval must be obtained from both the Cabinet and the House of Representatives.”
“However, if there’s no dissent from the House, this bill can vanish with a swift stroke.”
Online Casinos Also On Hold
Another bill that proposed legalizing online casinos in the country will also be put on hold or withdrawn. The bill is being considered in tandem with the entertainment complex bill and received initial support, with the cabinet approving the legislation at the start of this year.
However, due to the political upheaval, the cabinet has been shuffled, and the new government is said to want time to review the plans. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat believes there will be no opposition to withdrawing the legislation, particularly at this time. “The government is confident it has sufficient support to either delay deliberation or withdraw the bill for review,” he said.
The bill may be introduced at a later date, depending on how the political situation unfolds. The legislation was backed by Thaksin, who, despite being in exile, continues to hold power in Thailand, particularly through his (now suspended) daughter.
Thaksin commented, “Online gambling has two to four million Thai users with savings of 300 billion baht and gains and losses of about 500 billion per year. If we can tax 20% … we would get more than 100 billion per year.”
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat anticipates legalizing casinos could lead to a tourism uplift of 5–10%, generating 220 billion baht ($6.7 billion) in visitor revenue annually.
Adam is an experienced writer with years of experience in the gambling industry. He has worked as a content writer and editor for five years on sites such as Oddschecker, CoinTelegraph and Gambling Industry News, bringing excellent knowledge of the world of sports betting and online gambling. Adam focuses on emerging stories in the ever changing landscape of betting in the US. Read the latest on prediction markets, changing legislation, and sweepstakes.
