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Read Full BioA Senate committee in Thailand has rejected a bill proposing the legalization of casino resorts in the country. The committee cited concerns over social impact, economic disruption, and national security.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra advocated for the bill before her departure from office. Anutin Charnvirakul replaced Paetongtarn earlier this month, following her suspension amid a series of scandals.
Anutin has been public in his opposition to gambling. He stated that he “opposes gambling as a way to stimulate the economy”.
In addition to opposing plans to legalize casinos, he also reclassified poker as a form of gambling after taking office. His predecessor had reclassified the card game as a sport, as she favored relaxing the country’s strict gambling laws.
Lawmakers Reject Former PM’s Plans for Legal Gambling
The Senate committee rejected the former Prime Minister’s calls to legalize casinos nationwide. Senator Dr. Veerapun Suvannamai chaired the special Senate committee, which stated that passing the bill would lead to long-term harm. Fears included increased vulnerability to money laundering and a decline in public trust.
Senator Chinachot Saengsang also warned the new government about following a similar policy to Paetongtarn. He stated, “If the new government includes casino legalisation in its policy platform, it risks undermining public confidence and long-term governance.”
Given Anutin’s public opposition to gambling, there seems little danger of his government endorsing plans for casino legalization.
Debate Over Whether Casinos Would Boost Tourism
Thailand is one of the few nations in Southeast Asia that does not have a regulated casino sector and has no plans to establish one. Operators such as Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, and Melco Resorts & Entertainment all expressed interest in entering Thailand if the country were to allow casinos.
The previous government said legalizing casinos could boost tourism and create new jobs. However, Anutin blamed the casino bill for reducing the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country.
Anutin said Paetongtarn and her party took a “dismissive attitude” to Xi Jinping’s “repeated warnings” not to attempt to legalize casinos. Xi said he would reduce investment in the country and advise citizens not to visit Thailand if casinos were introduced.
The country has experienced a significant decline in visitors from China. Pre-pandemic, 11 million Chinese tourists visited the country, but it is expected there will only be 5 million this year. While the pandemic reduced travel, the number this year is expected to be lower than in 2024, when 6.7 million people visited.
Anutin hopes his and the Senate’s public rejection of the casino bill can improve the relationship with Xi and lead to an increase in visitors from China.
