A draft bill on Thai “entertainment complexes” that would each contain a casino is likely to get a reading in the country’s National Assembly on July 9.
The information was given by Danuporn Punnakanta, an MP and spokesman for the Pheu Thai party, a leading member of the country’s current coalition government, and reported by the Bangkok Post news outlet.
He was cited saying the bill was already listed on the parliament’s agenda, and would be – in the words of the Bangkok Post – “reviewed” on that date. According to people spoken to by GGRAsia, the parliament does not normally make public its agenda in advance of sessions, and it is likely that the bill will initially be read out, rather than debated at the July 9 session.
The bill would need to go through two more sessions in the assembly, according to previous commentary from the government.
In April, Julapun Amornvivat, deputy finance minister and a government voice on the legalisation process, said the government hoped to be able to set up the office for the Entertainment Complex Policy Committee within the government’s current term, which is due to run until May 2027.
The committee, to be chaired by the country’s prime minister, will oversee licensing of any gaming resorts, according to commentary by legal professionals in Thailand.
Akkaraporn Muangsobha, partner at Rajah & Tann (Thailand) Ltd, told GGRAsia on Tuesday: “Note that the office [of the committee] can only be established once the law is passed.
“If the law is passed by the end of this year as currently planned, then – based on Mr Julapun’s timeline – it would take one additional year to establish the office and formulate the policy, making the timeline for the bidding process – by 2027 – reasonable as projected.”
On Tuesday the Bangkok Post reported Mr Julapun as saying more than four major foreign investors had already scheduled meetings with the Thailand authorities regarding the possibility of the country allowing entertainment complexes.
