The new prime minister of Thailand has rejected the previous administration’s plans to legalise the country’s gambling industry.
Earlier this month, Thailand named a third prime minister in two years with the appointment of business tycoon Anutin Charnvirakul.
The 58-year-old didn’t take long to reveal his stance on online casinos, declaring the country would have to ‘wait for another prime minister’ to legalise the practice.
The former prime minister and her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin had floated the idea as a way to stimulate the economy while boosting tourism, particularly from China and attracting international investment.
Anutin is not convinced however and quickly warned that the project could backfire, claiming President Xi Jinping would introduce measures to significantly reduce Chinese travel, trade and investment with Thailand if the county’s Entertainment Complex Bill passed.
In February, President Xi urged the previous administration to reconsider plans – fearing that gambling could spark a rise in criminal activity and social issues.
Residents of China are technically prohibited from gambling both at home and abroad but there is one exception in Macau, a special administrative region of China, the only place in the country where casinos are legal.
Many people travel to places like Cambodia and the Philippines to gamble regardless. Anutin is wary of President Xi’s concerns and does not believe gambling should be used as a tool to boost the economy.
Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill was approved in principle by the cabinet in March but before meeting considerable delays and eventually being shelved in July due to concerns from the Finance Ministry.
Gambling isn’t completely outlawed in Thailand, as state-controlled horse racing can be wagered on as well as the lottery and on some other sports. The previous administration had big plans for state of the art casinos and entertainment complexes.
Offshore sportsbooks remain popular among those who live in Thailand, offering a workaround to the country’s strict laws.
Joe Lyons is a betting industry writer for GamblingIndustryNews with years of experience on reputable gambling websites. Joe specialises in long form content in the world of sports betting and gambling. Joe is recognised as an expert in sports fields such as horse racing, soccer, NFL and NBA.
