The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) recently expressed strong opposition to the Thai government's proposed entertainment complex bill, pointing out that the bill aims to legalize casino gambling. The party believes that the legalization of casinos will have a negative impact on Thai society and citizens, especially since the bill gives the Prime Minister too much power, which could exacerbate corruption and social issues.
The Palang Pracharath Party plans to discuss the casino issue in the Thai government's no-confidence motion next month. Deputy leader Chaimongkol Chairop expressed deep concerns about the decriminalization of gambling, believing that such policies could endanger the country's long-term interests and encourage the spread of corruption.
He questioned why the Thai government did not seek other safer, more sustainable ways to increase fiscal revenue, instead opting for measures that could damage the nation's integrity.
Chaimongkol emphasized that the legalization of casinos would not directly improve the living standards of Thai citizens, but would only benefit casino operators. He also criticized the government's contradictory stance, noting that the government initially promised to enhance Thailand's international image through strengthening its soft power, but now prioritizes the legalization of casinos.
Although Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other officials claim that casinos will only make up 10% of each entertainment complex, Chaimongkol warned that even this proportion could have profound negative effects on the country.
Unlike other countries that place casinos in remote areas, Thailand's proposed casinos would be located in major tourist cities such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Bangkok. The government believes these entertainment complexes will help promote sustainable tourism, but senior member of the Palang Pracharath Party, Kornkasiwat Kasemsri, questioned this argument, considering it misleading.
He warned that legalizing casinos could not only lead to the spread of gambling addiction but also increase crime rates, ultimately having a negative impact on Thailand's tourism industry.
Furthermore, Kornkasiwat expressed concerns about Section 15 of the bill, which grants overly broad powers to the entertainment complex project oversight committee led by the Prime Minister, potentially leading to abuse of power and loss of control.
