For any government attempting to legalize casino projects, public opposition is often a hindrance. The latest attempt by the Bai Dongtan government is no exception.
Earlier this week, the Gambling Prevention Foundation launched an online petition campaign asking people to sign against the "Entertainment Complex Act" — a bill that the Thai Party-led coalition is trying to pass.
If finally approved, the law would allow investors to open casinos in entertainment centers in Thailand.
Perhaps it's time to ask why Thais are keen on gambling, yet there is still opposition to casinos. The legalization of casinos has always been a thorny issue in Thailand. Over the past thirty years, governments and legislators have tried to legalize casinos, but have encountered obstacles because opponents and anti-gambling groups oppose the legalization of casinos on moral and social grounds.
However, over time, resistance has clearly weakened. Anti-gambling groups are not as vehement as they were twenty years ago. Although many polls and researchers find that most survey groups still do not want to see gambling legalized, society has gradually relaxed towards this idea, and many people accept that Thailand will follow Singapore's example and operate casinos as tourist attractions.
For example, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel is located within an integrated resort, featuring shopping malls, hotels, convention centers, theaters, and concert halls. To prevent people from becoming addicted to gambling, Singapore also sets high fees for local citizens who want to bet in casinos. Perhaps the biggest question is what Thai-style casinos will look like.
Will we have a world-class casino entertainment center that can add new tourist attractions like Las Vegas, Macau, and Singapore?
Or will we have casinos like Poipet or Myawaddy, operated by many Chinese investors and local underground casino operators? So far, the Thai public remains skeptical, as the government and policymakers keep changing the characteristics of the casino projects. Reports on the locations are inconsistent.
Initially, designated locations were prime tourist cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. Later, it was reported that these locations included border provinces with permanent immigration checkpoints, such as Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Phayao.
The goals and reasons for casino legalization are also constantly changing—from cracking down on underground casinos to promoting tourism and increasing tax revenue. Many people see this as a money-making activity. Recently, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stated at a business forum that the casino complex would cost about 500 billion Thai baht, attract foreign direct investment, and the complex might be listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
The draft Entertainment Complex Act has also raised questions because it gives the national committee the power to decide the locations and specifications of entertainment complexes.
If there is no clear vision, the government's casino policy will only encounter resistance. If that is the case, the Thai Party-led government can only blame itself.
Its rush to pass laws and bypass public participation only makes the public suspicious of its real motives. The only way for Thailand to implement the right casino policy is through good communication and public participation. If the public still does not trust, then the government will lose.
