A Thai Senate committee has recommended that the government withdraw the proposed entertainment complex bill, arguing that the draft could violate several articles of the 2017 constitution. According to the Bangkok Post, the committee, chaired by Senator Veerapun Suvannamai, noted after a two-month review that the bill lacks transparency, especially the fact that casinos were not explicitly mentioned at the beginning of its drafting. This omission could be interpreted as contrary to the country's strategic principles and could face a challenge in the Constitutional Court.
The committee also questioned the economic viability of legalizing casinos. The committee cited the opinion of the National Economic and Social Development Committee. The committee warned that global casino revenues are on a downward trend, which suggests that entering the industry at this time may bring limited fiscal benefits. The committee also pointed out that profits in the international casino market tend to favor private operators rather than the state, which raises questions about the government's revenue forecasts.
Concerns about social impact and public access
On a social level, the bill has been criticized for setting strict eligibility criteria for Thai citizens, which requires individuals to have at least 50 million baht (about 1.3 million euros) in their bank accounts to enter casinos. According to local media reports, the Senate committee believes that such a threshold is likely to exclude current underground gamblers, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the bill in combating illegal gambling. Only about 10,000 people are expected to qualify, and public concerns are growing about whether the bill can solve social problems or exacerbate them.
Coalition split adds to political uncertainty
The development complicates the political situation in the Southeast Asian country and makes the bill's prospects more uncertain. Last week, the Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from the ruling coalition, reducing the government's majority and making the bill's passage when parliament resumes on July 3 uncertain. Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul said the party could not support a policy that he believed would only benefit a few people and harm the interests of the wider society. He cited the proposal as one of the reasons for the party's withdrawal.
Border tensions
Further exacerbating the problem is a recent diplomatic dispute involving a leaked phone call between Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former Cambodian leader Hun Sen. The criticism of a Thai general after a deadly border clash in the call led to tighter controls on the Thai-Cambodian border, disrupting regional trade and tourism. Operators such as Donaco International, which runs a casino resort in Poipet, have reported a drop in business due to a drop in Thai tourists.
