Referendum only solution for Thailand casino bill: Expert
A leading Thai political researcher is proposing that the Thai government must hold a national referendum on the controversial casino legalisation bill, warning that public opinion is being sidelined as authorities push forward with plans to transform the country’s gambling laws.
Dr Stithorn Thananithichot, director of the Office of Innovation for Democracy, said the government’s shifting stance and lack of transparency over the bill have only fuelled suspicion. “The government is trying to push the bill and then backs off when facing opposition,” he told the Bangkok Post.
“A referendum is the only solution,” Stithorn stated, amid growing public anger and widespread protests against the proposed legislation, which aims to establish an integrated entertainment complex where gambling would be permissible, something currently banned in Thailand, apart from horse racing and a state lottery.
Bill may miss 2025 window
The bill was originally due for parliamentary review in the session that ended on 9 April 2025, but has since been postponed until July at the earliest.
This is primarily due to resistance from various groups, including the coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, which has prompted the delays. Meanwhile, the Thai Senate has also formed a special committee to evaluate the proposal, with findings expected by October 2025.
Proponents of the bill believe it can open the door to a gambling boom, projecting annual gross gaming revenue of up to 308 trillion baht (€8.36 billion). That would place Thailand among the world’s top three gaming markets, behind only Macau and Las Vegas.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who supports the plan, argues the legislation would help revive tourism in the post-COVID era. She claims that only 10 percent of each entertainment complex would be allocated for gambling, with the excess area will be used for hotels, restaurants, and other facilities designed to boost local economies.
Proposal meets public resistance
However, critics allege the bill is being pushed through to benefit powerful interests, including former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra—Paetongtarn’s father—who has long supported casino development and online gambling.
Public resistance has continued to grow. Last month, tens of thousands of protesters marched through Bangkok, submitting a petition with 100,000 signatures demanding the bill be scrapped. Prominent former political activist Jatuporn Prompan joined the protest, warning that legalised gambling would “ruin the nation and weaken the people.”
On 26 March 2025, Paetongtarn survived a no-confidence vote, with 319 MPs backing her leadership despite claims she is merely following Thaksin’s agenda.
Paetongtarn, while reaffirming her support for the concept, has acknowledged that further public and political scrutiny is needed. “Let all issues be thoroughly examined first,” she said. “Because Thailand has never had casinos before.”
