Thailand’s newly appointed Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ruled out the prospect of legalizing casinos during his tenure, marking the first time he has clarified his stance since assuming office.
Speaking to local media, Anutin stressed that gambling would not be used as a tool to stimulate the economy. “If someone says gambling can stimulate the economy, I’d say wait for another prime minister,” he said. “Don’t wait for me, as I don’t agree with this approach. While I was interior minister, I also said poker shouldn’t be allowed. But once I left, they went ahead with it. We must bring righteousness and justice back to our nation.”
Anutin officially took office on September 5th, following the removal of former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose coalition government had championed casino legalization as part of its plan to develop entertainment complexes. That policy was effectively shelved in July, when Thailand’s House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to withdraw the Entertainment Complex Bill, a flagship initiative of Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai Party.
The new prime minister’s position stands in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor, who had envisioned as much as $42 billion in investment in integrated resorts. Instead, Anutin has signaled that gambling-related reforms — including the recognition of poker as a sport — could be rolled back. He indicated that he would review poker’s current legal status, a move that could undo policy changes introduced in July, when the Sports Authority of Thailand formally approved its classification as a sport.
Anutin has long been a vocal critic of casino legalization. In July, he warned that the casino plan could cause a 90 percent drop in Chinese tourist arrivals, claiming Beijing had strongly objected to Thailand’s proposals. He further alleged that Chinese President Xi Jinping had issued repeated warnings to the Thai government to abandon the initiative or risk consequences for tourism, trade, and investment.
