Thailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, has effectively reimposed a countrywide ban on poker games, reported local media outlet The Nation.
Mr Anutin – also the country’s interior minister – revoked with immediate effect on Wednesday an order by former interior minister and former caretaker premier Phumtham Wechayachai, that had legalised poker games in the country, according to the outlet.
Mr Anutin’s new instruction referred to a pledge his government made on September 29, to crack down on all forms of gambling, stated The Nation.
In early September, soon after he took the top job, Mr Anutin had flagged the fact he disagreed with the idea of stimulating the economy via liberalisation of gambling.
As recently as this summer, Thailand had seemed poised to legalise casino resorts. But a draft bill on the topic was withdrawn from parliament in July.
That was amid political turmoil that had seen the Bhumjaithai Party led by Mr Anutin, exit in June from the-then coalition government led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra. In August, her removal from power over other matters, had been confirmed by the country’s Constitutional Court.
On Wednesday, Ms Shinawatra announced her resignation as leader of the Pheu Thai Party, a grouping considered a key proponent of the country’s casino-legalisation efforts.
