Thailand Senate to debate committee report opposing casino bill

01-10-2020 |  

Thailand’s Senate is set to debate a committee report opposing the previous administration’s casino-entertainment complex bill on Tuesday, September 23rd.

The news comes in updates from the Bangkok Post, noting that the entertainment complex bill, initially advanced under former Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was withdrawn in July before it reached a vote in the Cabinet.

The anti-casino report under review was compiled by a Senate committee chaired by Senator Veeraphan Suwannamai. It warns that the casino bill poses serious constitutional, economic, and social risks. The report concludes that the legislation is based on unproven assumptions and lacks sufficient evidence to demonstrate its suitability for Thailand.

The committee’s findings argue that casino-based entertainment complexes would generate limited economic value, with revenue largely shifting from players to operators rather than creating new wealth. At the same time, the required infrastructure investments would impose a heavy financial burden on the state.

Constitutional concerns

On constitutional grounds, the report states that the bill conflicts with several provisions, including Section 3, which requires state bodies to uphold the rule of law for public benefit, and Section 26, which prohibits legislation inconsistent with established legal principles.

The committee also raised concerns over the sweeping powers that would be granted to a proposed Entertainment Complex Policy Board, chaired by the prime minister, with authority to amend or abolish laws to facilitate casino operations. Such centralization, the report warned, would bypass accountability and undermine constitutional checks and balances.

Social impacts and reputational risks

Socially, the report cites risks of gambling addiction, family breakdowns, crime, and added strain on Thailand’s health system. It further highlights risks of money laundering and organized crime, raising national security concerns.

The committee also cautioned that legalizing casino complexes could damage Thailand’s international reputation, portraying the country as prioritizing short-term economic gain at the expense of long-term sustainable development.

Proposal for a national referendum

While the committee rejected the bill outright, it outlined three potential scenarios if the government insists on moving forward. The first, and most preferred, is abandoning the casino legalization plan entirely in favor of alternative tourism strategies, such as wellness complexes.

If the bill proceeds, the committee recommends that comprehensive impact assessments be conducted, with results made public, and that a national referendum be held to determine whether the public supports casino legalization. Should the plan fail to meet economic projections or effectively mitigate social harms, the report asserts that the government must take responsibility by providing compensation and remedies.

These recommendations align with the position of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who has taken a firm anti-casino stance since assuming office, marking a clear departure from the previous administration’s push for integrated casino resorts. His government has emphasized that tourism development should avoid policies that could jeopardize social stability and national security.

Source: AGBrief