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Read Full BioThe Thai government has confirmed it will withdraw a bill aimed at legalizing casinos as part of integrated entertainment complexes.
According to Bloomberg, Chief Whip Visuth Chainaroon stated that the government will propose a motion to withdraw the bill from the parliamentary agenda on Wednesday.
Visuth told media representatives on July 7: “We are not pulling this bill from the agenda out of fear or anything. We would just like to communicate with the people first on the issue and clear up any lingering doubts.”
Thai Government to Withdraw Casino Bill
The move comes just days after the government said it would not officially withdraw the bill, but instead seek to deprioritize it.
The government previously claimed that the controversial bill would help raise tax revenues for Thailand and assist the tourism sector in eliminating the concept of off-seasons.
Critics asserted the bill would drive social problems like problem gambling and help facilitate money laundering.
The media outlet said the bill’s failure would “frustrate foreign investors interested in developing casinos in Thailand as part of big entertainment complexes.”
Major casino operators, including Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, and Melco Resorts & Entertainment, all expressed their interest in the project.
Some of these operators even held talks with the government earlier this year. Several companies discussed building complexes in central Bangkok with government ministers.
Thailand is one of the few nations in Southeast Asia that does not have a regulated casino sector or plans to establish one.
The government said that if Bangkok were to green-light casino development plans, the move would bring foreign capital into the country and help create thousands of new jobs.
Bill’s Champion ‘Temporarily Suspended’
Critics of the bill have been vociferous, particularly in the Thai parliament. Most notable of all was the Bhumjaithai Party, a former member of the ruling coalition.
Since voicing its opposition to the bill, which Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra championed, Bhumjaithai has left the coalition and joined the opposition.
Then, in early July, the Constitutional Court temporarily suspended Paetongtarn from office, following a petition from the Senate, which also opposed the bill.
A controversial leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian leader Hun Sen also incensed the public.
During the call, Paetongtarn was heard making derogatory remarks about a Thai military leader as the two leaders discussed an ongoing border crisis.
Members of the public held protests against the bill in late March and early April. The government countered by claiming that casinos would occupy a maximum of 10% of the complex’s floor space
