Protesters continued to gather outside the Thai parliament on Wednesday, undeterred by the government’s decision to postpone the first reading of the Entertainment Complex Bill, originally scheduled for April 9th.
The proposed legislation, which would legalize casinos in Thailand, has sparked growing opposition. Demonstrators, many dressed in white and waving Thai flags, are demanding the bill be scrapped altogether rather than merely delayed, citing concerns about its potential social impact.
According to the Bangkok Post, Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, warned of further action if the government does not fully abandon the proposal.
Chief government whip Wisut Chainarun confirmed that the bill had only been delayed, not withdrawn. He stressed the need to foster public understanding of the issue and noted that differing views are part of the democratic process.
Pichit Chaimongkol, leader of the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, expressed concern that the government’s push for the legislation might serve vested private interests. He argued that, despite the government’s focus on an integrated entertainment complex, the plan still fundamentally includes a casino that could harm people and the country.
Religious leaders have also joined the opposition, with the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bangkok, Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, petitioning against the casino proposal due to concerns about potential social problems.
Another local media outlet, The Nation, reported that Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra defended the bill during a meeting with senior officials, characterizing the opposition as political gamesmanship that distorts the legislation’s intent.
Paetongtarn insisted that the casino would occupy only 10 percent of the entertainment complex, dismissing claims that the country would be filled with casinos as untrue.
She emphasized the economic benefits, stating that the complexes would create jobs and boost local economies. Each complex, she explained, would include multiple hotels and restaurants, creating thousands of jobs, with casino profits helping to repay investment costs.
