The suspension, announced on Tuesday, of Paetongtarn Shinawatra (pictured in a file photo) as Thailand’s prime minister has the potential to set back the country’s casino-resort legalisation effort. That is according to Ben Lee, managing partner at casino industry adviser IGamiX Management and Consulting Ltd, in comments to GGRAsia.
Daniel Cheng, a prominent commentator on the Asia-Pacific casino sector and a former casino executive, nonetheless noted to GGRAsia that Ms Shinawatra’s family remains a powerful force in Thai politics and is likely to continue pushing for casino legalisation.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court ordered on Tuesday the suspension of Ms Shinawatra, pending its investigation into a phone call last month between the premier and former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, which was then leaked.
Reuters reported on Tuesday that Suriya Juangroongruangkit – who like Ms Shinawatra is a member of the Pheu Tai party that is a leading element in the current coalition government – would become interim prime minister. He has been serving as deputy prime minister and transport minister in Ms Shinawatra’s administration.
Ms Shinawatra has 15 days to respond the Constitutional Court after she was accused of dishonesty and breaching ethical standards over the phone call.
Her government had been leading the policy to legalise so-called entertainment complexes, each due to house a casino.
Mr Lee of IgamiX told GGRAsia: “The latest development will push the entertainment complex issue even further past the back burner.”
He added: “The Shinawatras are once again fighting for political relevance and survival.”
Mr Lee further noted: “If Thailand ends up with yet another new prime minister, one would offer odds that the new one would likely be more cautious with unpopular issues.”
The casino legalisation policy had caused friction for Ms Shinawatra’s government.
On Monday it had been reported that a formal reading of the entertainment complex bill – due in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Thailand’s parliament – was to be delayed by “about one month”, from a previously-mentioned date of July 9.
Last month it emerged that a 53,900-signature petition had been submitted to Thailand’s Election Commission, calling on the country’s government to hold a national referendum on the legalisation of casinos.
Industry commentator Mr Cheng told GGRAsia: “For all intents and purpose, the Shinawatra clan remain firmly in control of Pheu Thai.
“The gaming legislation schedule has already been pushed back a month and they will persist as long and as far as they are able until such a time if and when they lose the political wherewithal.”
The Shinawatra family has had a long-standing presence in modern Thai politics.
The Pheu Thai Party – a major part of the coalition government that has been led by Ms Shinawatra – is closely linked to the Shinawatra family, according to major news outlets.
Ms Shinawatra’s father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was prime minister from 2001 to 2006, but was removed from office by the army in 2006.
He returned to the country in 2023 following 15 years of self-imposed exile. Mr Shinawatra had been convicted in his absence on a number of allegations including corruption.
At the turn of this year and in 2024, Mr Shinawatra made several public statements about casino legalisation policy.
His sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, was prime minister from 2011 to 2014, before she also was removed from office: on that occasion by the Constitutional Court. She left Thailand in 2017 and was convicted in her absence of abuse of power. In 2019 it was reported she had been granted Serbian citizenship.
