A Senate panel tasked with studying Thailand’s national policy on casino legalisation has urged the government to withdraw the bill, citing economic and social concerns. That is according to remarks from the panel’s chair, Veerapun Suvannamai, as cited by the Bangkok Post newspaper in a Friday report. The lawmaker said the panel had made the request after spending two months studying the bill.
The bill to legalise entertainment complexes with casinos was to have a first reading by the lower house of Thailand’s National Assembly on July 9, but the government announced this week that the process would be postponed.
Mr Veerapun was quoted as saying that the bill had been initially introduced by the Pheu Thai Party-led government without it disclosing plans for casinos, which could run contrary to Thailand’s “national strategy”.
The senator also told the media outlet that his panel had found “little evidence” to support the claim that casino legalisation could significantly boost Thailand’s economy.
He mentioned remarks from Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Council, which stated to his panel that casino revenues have been on a downward trend globally.
“Most casino profits go to private investors, not the state,” stated Mr Veerapun, noting that his panel doubted the government’s projections regarding taxation benefits from a legalised casino industry.
Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister of Thailand, had previously shared his doubts with the senate panel on the potential taxation benefits that casino resort complexes could bring to the country. He was reportedly noting that was because the Thai government might want to keep gaming tax at a competitive level relative to other casino jurisdictions, in order to draw gaming patrons from overseas.
In his comments, Mr Veerapun also observed that his panel did not deem casino legalisation as a step that could stamp out illegal gambling in the country, as those that engage in this illicit trade are unlikely to switch to lawful gaming activities.
The plan to allow casinos in Thailand is facing growing opposition: a recent survey conducted by Thailand’s National Institute of Development Administration shows that the majority of respondents oppose the legalisation of casino gambling in the country.
Thailand’s government has defended its plan to host a number of entertainment complexes with casinos, pledging strict regulations and transparency.
The Thai government is currently grappling with a major internal crisis, as the second-largest party in the ruling coalition, the Bhumjaithai Party, withdrew from the government last week.
Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, was cited in the Bangkok Post’s Friday report as saying that the government’s casino policy was one of the key reasons for his party to quit the coalition government.
