Thailand’s plan to build entertainment complexes featuring casinos is expected to generate significant job opportunities across the country. According to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, each entertainment complex will create approximately 20,000 jobs, providing a major boost to the local economy.
Workers employed at these sites will be guaranteed a monthly wage of at least THB 20,000 ($580), offering not only employment but also a stable income for many Thais.
This information was shared by Thaksin in a speech at a gathering of his supporters in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom, as reported by the local media outlet Bangkok Post.
Thaksin, the former prime minister and father of the current PM, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is believed to be the de facto leader of the ruling Pheu Thai Party.
Thaksin emphasized that licenses to operate casinos within these entertainment complexes will be granted through an “open bidding process”, ensuring the opportunity to operate the casinos is accessible to interested parties. This competitive process will also require bidders to propose plans that maximize tourism benefits and contribute to tax revenue, aiming to bolster the nation’s economy.
Thaksin clarified that the entertainment complexes will resemble those found in global tourism hotspots like Las Vegas and Singapore. While casinos will be a key feature, they will occupy less than 10 percent of the overall space. According to previous reports, the casino area will be limited to 3–5 percent of the total area.
The remaining area will be dedicated to various attractions and activities, including sports stadiums, conference halls, water parks, and even ice-skating arenas.
These developments are expected to diversify Thailand’s entertainment offerings and attract international tourists, providing a boost to the tourism sector, which has seen a decline due to the pandemic.
Thailand’s entertainment complex projects aim to revitalize the country’s economy, particularly in the wake of a heavy debt burden inherited from the previous administration.
Thaksin noted that the government’s focus is to ensure the economic well-being of Thai citizens, with job creation being a key measure to improve living standards. The overall goal is to generate income, attract tourism, and address the long-standing economic challenges Thailand has faced.
The entertainment complex bill has already been approved in principle by the cabinet and will soon be forwarded to the House of Representatives for further deliberation. The legislative process is expected to take around six months, after which the rules and final details of the project will be worked out before implementation begins next year.
Thailand’s tourism sector, which saw more than 40 million visitors before the pandemic, is projected to return to between 37 and 38 million arrivals this year. The government hopes the new entertainment complexes will act as magnets for international tourists, further boosting the tourism sector and, by extension, the economy.
While there has been some opposition to the plan, including calls for a referendum on the legalization of casinos, Thaksin dismissed these concerns, reiterating that if the majority of the public supports the initiative, it will move forward.
He also responded to concerns over potential criminal activity, including money laundering, within the entertainment complexes, stating that it is crucial for the bill to be communicated clearly to the public to address such issues.
