The latest draft of Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill for the first stage of casino legalisation in that country might be considered today (Thursday, March 27) by the country’s cabinet.
That is according to comments attributed to deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat, cited on Wednesday by the Bangkok Post newspaper.
He said the Ministry of Finance would present the draft bill on entertainment complexes – as tourism resorts with casinos are known in that country – but whether the item is actually placed on the cabinet’s agenda would depend on Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
If the draft law is discussed and approved on Thursday, the government would then present it for consideration to the House of Representatives in the National Assembly, said Mr Julapun.
The Bangkok Post outlined – citing the Ministry of Finance – that the purpose of the Entertainment Complex Bill is to promote and regulate the development of integrated entertainment businesses that meet standards, support sustainable tourism, and encourage investment in the country.
On Wednesday Ms Shinawatra comfortably survived a no-confidence vote in parliament, with the backing of 319 of 488 lawmakers present.
The news outlet said that regular cabinet meetings are usually on Tuesday, but this week the gathering had been rescheduled to Thursday, because of Wednesday’s confidence vote.
The Bangkok Post mentioned the 80 percent support among respondents to a government consultation on the casino policy, held from February 28 to March 14. But the news outlet suggested that was at odds with a recent public opinion poll, which it said indicated a majority of respondents worried about perceived negative effects of legalised gambling.
