Thailand to decide casino bill's future on Monday
The Thai government is expected to announce on Monday whether it will withdraw or postpone the contentious Entertainment Complex Bill from the House agenda. According to a Bangkok Post report, the decision comes amid mounting legal and political pressure following the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and a recent cabinet reshuffle.
Chousak Sirinil, Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed that the government is reassessing the timing and approach to the casino bill. While formal withdrawal would typically require a House resolution, it could be pulled immediately if there are no objections from lawmakers.
The proposed legislation had been marked for urgent deliberation during the current parliamentary session. However, with the current shift in political priorities, the administration now intends to advance an amnesty bill before revisiting the casino measure.
Thailand’s Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri stated that discussions with Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat are still required before the matter is finalised. The issue is expected to be reviewed during the government whip committee meeting on Monday.
Senate panel raises concerns on transparency
A Senate committee chaired by Weeraphan Suwannamai is growing increasingly sceptical of the government’s handling of the Entertainment Complex Bill. The panel believes that vital details may have been omitted or withheld.
The committee has identified twelve major concerns about the proposed legislation. Key among these are the project’s financial structure, the legal basis for selecting Klong Toey Port as a development site, and the licensing process for casino operators.
Questions have also arisen over whether the bill implicitly approves the construction of five casinos and whether its land use provisions violate existing expropriation laws. The committee is seeking clarity on whether casino income is indeed the primary economic driver of the overall entertainment complex strategy.
Paetongtarn’s suspension heightens instability
The future of the Entertainment Complex Bill has been clouded further by the Constitutional Court’s suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn. The Court is reviewing allegations that she breached ethical standards following the unauthorised release of a phone conversation with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen. In the recording, Paetongtarn was heard criticising a Thai army commander and seemingly aligning with Hun Sen—actions perceived by some as compromising national sovereignty.
With Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul now expected to assume a caretaker role, the government faces added uncertainty. A no-confidence motion may soon be introduced following the departure of a key coalition partner and a weakened parliamentary majority.
Public division and legal doubts persist
The proposed Entertainment Complex Bill aims to legalise casino gambling as part of a broader tourism and economic strategy. However, the public remains sharply divided. Critics argue the measure lacks regulatory clarity and fails to address long-standing issues tied to illegal gambling.
A clause restricting casino access to Thai nationals with a minimum of 50 million baht in savings has drawn criticism for favouring the elite. Although the Pheu Thai Party has stated that it is working with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to ensure strict safeguards, opposition voices and civil society groups insist the draft remains opaque.
