Casino bill on hold in Thailand, PM confirms
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, announced the postponement of the parliamentary debate on the proposed Entertainment complex bill, which aims to legalise casino resorts in the country.
The debate, originally scheduled for Wednesday, i.e. 9 April 2025, has been put on hold following a cabinet meeting amid public outcry. The decision was first reported by the Thai Public Broadcasting System.
As per an official statement, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn has clarified that the bill is not being withdrawn but said the delay followed consultations with coalition parties led by the ruling Pheu Thai Party. She stated that more urgent national matters required attention before parliament could move forward with casino legislation.
Before this, the deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat had expressed confidence that the bill would pass its first reading in the lower house of the National Assembly.
Bill pushed for legal casinos
The bill, in its current draft, proposes issuing casino licenses for 30 years, with the option for a 10-year extension. It also requires each entertainment complex to attract a minimum investment of 100 billion baht (€2.65 billion).
According to the proposal, only limited companies or public limited companies registered in Thailand with a paid-up capital of at least 10 billion baht ( €250 million) would be eligible to operate the casino resorts. The bill also outlined additional services allowed within the complexes, including hotels, conference centres, and tourism facilities.
A separate clause, introduced by the Council of State, Thailand’s legal advisory body, sets a 50-million-baht (€1.25 million) deposit requirement for local residents wishing to gamble at the future casino complexes. However, the final amendment was left up to the National Assembly to determine whether this financial qualification remains in the final version of the bill.
Speculation and criticism mount
Reportedly, rumors have afloat that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is allegedly attempting to influence the coalition’s stance on the bill. According to unnamed sources, ex-PM has pressured lawmakers to support the bill, warning that those who oppose it risk being expelled from the coalition. The Pheu Thai Party, which he founded, currently leads the government and is headed by his daughter, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
However, Sorawong Thienthong, Pheu Thai’s secretary-general and the Minister of Sports and Tourism, denied the allegations. “These claims are false, but we cannot control what people choose to believe,” he said.
On the other hand, the bill has sparked widespread protest as Thailand considers legalising casinos for the first time in its modern history, with economic growth and tourism recovery at the heart of the debate.
Multiple NGOs, religious groups, and legal experts have raised concerns about the proposal. For some, it risks opening a Pandora’s box, potentially fuelling widespread gambling addiction and related social issues. For others, it is seen as unconstitutional and in direct conflict with religious values.
