A representative of what the Bangkok Post called a “special committee” involved in the process of establishing the first casino resorts in Thailand has said that Bangkok (pictured), Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Phuket could be the first four locations to host such venues. A bill to legalise casino gaming in the nation is still to be approved.
The newspaper cited Nikom Boonwiset, vice-chairman of the committee, as saying on Thursday that the panel was initially eyeing those four major tourist provinces to host entertainment complexes – as such venues are known in Thailand – each with a casino.
Mr Nikom, an MP of the Pheu Thai Party, reportedly mentioned a figure of about THB500 billion (US$14.84 billion) in aggregate investment to develop entertainment complexes in the nation. He added that such projects were expected to attract at least 50 million visitors annually and create circa 40,000 employment positions.
The representative said several international casino operators had already shown interest in investing in Thailand.
Earlier this week, the country’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said the cabinet would not rush the deliberation of the Entertainment Complex Bill – the enabling bill for the country to host casinos in large-scale resorts – as the government would consider opinions and concerns from all stakeholders.
“It is crucial for the [finance] ministry to gather opinions on the bill and its related regulations. So, I would say there is no need to expedite its return to the cabinet. Let all issues be thoroughly examined first,” said Ms Shinawatra on Tuesday, as cited by media outlet The Nation.
“I would like all details to be carefully reviewed. I don’t want the ministry to rush it to the cabinet because Thailand has never had casinos before,” she added.
Protests have been staged outside the Ministry of Finance in the Thai capital Bangkok, against the bill. Some protest groups submitted letters of objection to the bill to Government House, where the country’s cabinet meets, the Bangkok Post has recently reported.
Thailand’s cabinet had approved in principle the entertainment complex bill on January 13. The bill was then scrutinised by the legal advisory body, the Council of State, which proposed a number of revisions to the draft, including the introduction of a THB50-million bank deposit threshold for locals wishing to gamble in any casino complexes that might be set up in the country.
The original draft of the bill proposed casino licences running for 30 years, with the possibility of renewal for a further 10 years. Each casino resort would require at least THB100 billion in investment.
The bill also outlined other forms of business permitted in the entertainment complexes aside from gaming. They include hotels, conference centres and tourism attractions.
