Abhisit Vejjajiva, a former prime minister of Thailand, has renewed his attack on the current government’s casino legalisation push.
“I still firmly believe, based on more than 30 years in politics, that the risks and potential damage from this policy outweigh the possible benefits,” said Mr Abhisit (pictured in a file photo), as cited by the Bangkok Post newspaper.
He was speaking at a Thursday panel meeting for the Senate, the upper chamber of Thailand’s National Assembly.
Senator Veerapun Suvannamai, chairman of the panel, which is tasked with studying the details of the national government’s policy on the issue, had said previously the panel would invite current and former prime ministers to air their views.
Mr Abhisit took up the invitation on Thursday, suggesting legalising casinos would not necessarily eliminate elements of the “underground economy”.
The news outlet quoted him saying: “The idea that legal casinos can clean up the underground economy is flawed. Look at government lotteries versus underground ones – they coexist.”
Mr Abhisit was also cited as having doubts on the potential taxation benefits that the casino resort complexes could bring to the country. This was because a national 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 addition, the Thai politician was concerned that with its casino legalisation step, his country could experience tension in its relations with neighbouring China, as the latter has an ongoing policy against its citizens gambling overseas.
The first reading of the enabling bill for Thailand’s casino legalisation had initially been scheduled for April but was postponed amid some public opposition.
The lower house of the National Assembly might examine the bill in July, when parliament reconvenes, the Bangkok Post recently reported.
