Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on Tuesday – after a cabinet meeting – postponement of parliament’s consideration of the Entertainment Complex Bill to legalise casinos in that nation. A debate had been due on Wednesday (April 9).
The news of the delay was reported by the Thai Public Broadcasting System.
Ms Shinawatra (pictured in a file photo) added the bill was not being withdrawn. She said the pause followed talks with parties in the coalition government led by the Pheu Thai Party, adding that other more urgent issues needed discussion.
On Monday, The Nation newspaper had cited Julapun Amornvivat, deputy finance minister, saying he was confident the bill would be able to pass a first reading in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
The original draft 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 (US$2.88 billion currently) in investment.
Casino resorts in the country could only be operated by a limited company or a public limited company registered in Thailand, which must have a paid-up capital of at least THB10 billion.
The bill also outlined other forms of business permitted in the entertainment complexes aside from gaming. They include hotels, conference centres and tourism attractions.
A THB50-million bank deposit qualification – for locals wishing to gamble in any casino complexes that might be set up in the country – was introduced by the Council of State, the country’s legal advisory body. It will be up to the National Assembly to decide whether the financial qualification should be removed from the bill.
On Tuesday, the Bangkok Post reported – citing sources it did not identify – that Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister of Thailand, was seeking to assert influence on the governing coalition regarding a bill to legalise casino resorts in the country.
The Bangkok Post’s report said that ahead of the expected vote, Mr Shinawatra had warned members of the coalition to support the Entertainment Complex Bill, or risk expulsion from the coalition government. The coalition is led by the Pheu Thai Party he founded, and has one of Mr Thaksin’s daughter’s, Ms Paetongtarn Shinawatra, as prime minister.
The claim of pressure from Mr Shinawatra was denied by a spokesperson for Pheu Thai, its secretary-general Sorawong Thienthong, who is also the minister of sports and tourism.
“These claims are false, but we cannot control what people choose to believe,” Mr Sorawong was quoted as saying.
