Thailand has postponed a parliamentary debate on a bill that would legalize casinos amid mounting opposition and a concerning international trade environment.
According to Bloomberg, parliament will not consider the Entertainment Complex Business Act on Wednesday as previously scheduled. However, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasized that the government is not withdrawing the proposal.
After meeting with leaders of political parties in her coalition, Paetongtarn noted that the government will continue to listen to all opinions. She indicated that the bill might be presented to parliament in its next session.
The prime minister argued that critics of the bill have focused solely on the casino aspect, while the proposed entertainment complexes would offer leisure activities for everyone, including children. She also rejected speculation that casinos would appear throughout the country, stating they would only be located in approved resorts. “We will continue to communicate so that people will have a better understanding,” Paetongtarn said.
The government’s priority now is to address the crisis resulting from the United States’ decision to impose a 36 percent tariff on Thai products, along with the aftermath of the deadly earthquake that struck Bangkok last month, the prime minister stated on Tuesday.
Paetongtarn’s justification could appear contradictory, as just days earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had strongly defended the Entertainment Complex Bill as a necessary economic measure in response to the increasing US tariffs on Thai goods.
The decision to postpone the parliamentary debate comes as a surprise, as Thai Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat has expressed confidence that the Entertainment Complex Act will pass its first reading in parliament this week.
The bill, which received cabinet endorsement last month, proposes that casinos be incorporated within integrated entertainment complexes, occupying no more than 10 percent of the premises. The legislation also suggests strict entry requirements for Thai citizens—including proof of THB50 million ($1.5 million) in bank deposits—to combat gambling addiction among locals.
While Paetongtarn’s administration had been pushing for the bill to pass this year, it has faced criticism from opposition parties and numerous civil and religious groups fighting gambling addiction among Thais. Critics argue that the bill will primarily benefit large businesses and foreign companies, and allege that it was being rushed through without sufficient public debate.
Thai finance ministry officials have previously stated that each entertainment complex would attract around THB100 billion ($2.9 billion) in investment and create approximately 20,000 jobs. They estimate that foreign tourist spending could increase by 40 percent per trip, boosting growth in an industry that employs one in five Thais and accounts for roughly 13 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product.
