A deputy prime minister of Thailand, Phumtham Wechayachai, has said the proposed Entertainment Complex Bill for legalising casino resorts in that nation is a vital economic measure amid higher U.S. tariffs on Thai goods.
“This isn’t about encouraging gambling; it’s about economic survival,” he said, as quoted by the Bangkok Post newspaper.
The U.S. government said earlier this month that it would impose what it described as specific reciprocal tariffs on some countries, which will go into effect on April 9. Thailand is among those jurisdictions, facing a 36-percent tariff.
The deputy prime minister was cited as saying that the casino gaming enabling bill aimed to generate significant revenue for the government, which would help counter the 36-percent U.S. tariff hike on Thai goods.
Mr Phumtham argued the measure would boost Thailand’s financial resilience and dismissed concerns that it would promote gambling addiction. He said strict entry rules, including age and income restrictions, would help mitigate such a risk.
The bill is set for parliamentary debate on Wednesday (April 9). According to the Bangkok Post report, Mr Phumtham urged critics to join the parliamentary debate, citing results from a government-led survey on the topic.
Among 71,291 responses to a government consultation on casino liberalisation, 80.75 percent were in favour of the principle of having casino resorts in the country, according to the results of the survey published by the nation’s Ministry of Finance.
Opposition to the Entertainment Complex Bill is growing as the government continues its push.
Hundreds of protesters, including academics, religious leaders and political activists, marched to the country’s parliament last week demanding that MPs reject the bill, reported a number of local media outlets.
A group of 30 former drafters of Thailand’s 2017 charter issued a letter warning that the government may be at risk of violating ethics rules and breaching the country’s national strategy if it moves forward with the Entertainment Complex Bill. Additionally, 189 former senators – including three ex-Senate speakers – have issued a public statement urging MPs to reject the casino-enabling bill, voicing concerns over social and economic risks.
On Sunday, the Fiscal Policy Office of Thailand’s Ministry of Finance released a statement supporting the draft law, stating it would benefit the country more than it would cause harm, according to a report on The Star newspaper.
The statement said the bill would help revive the country’s tourism sector, offer new investment opportunities, create jobs, increase tax revenue and ensure proper regulation of the casino industry.
