The issue of legalizing casinos in Thailand has been controversial since its proposal. Despite the government's attempt to promote the bill under the name of "entertainment complexes," many critics believe that this move lacks social consensus and could even jeopardize government stability.
Particularly, the discussion on the entry threshold for casinos has made this issue more controversial. Some economists and entrepreneurs argue that Thailand's economic development should not rely solely on casinos, as there are many other potential areas worth investing in.
Researchers from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), Nontharit Bisalbutra, pointed out that while casinos can generate over a hundred billion Thai baht in economic activity, they also bring serious social problems. He believes that if the government really wants to develop the gambling industry, it might consider turning to global trends like esports instead of traditional gambling.
He emphasized that the construction phase of casinos indeed brings short-term economic stimulation, but in the long term, the real economic benefits mainly come from the government's taxation of casinos. However, whether this revenue can offset the social costs brought by gambling addiction remains a question worth pondering.
Nontharit further pointed out that the opening of casinos would not only attract foreign tourists but also lead to gambling addiction problems among local residents. If not managed properly, casinos could easily become hotbeds for human trafficking, drug trade, and criminal activities, increasing the hidden dangers to social security.
He believes that the government should establish a comprehensive mechanism to ensure that casino revenues are used for social welfare, rather than fostering illegal activities. However, so far, the government has not proposed any relevant remedial measures.
Additionally, the Thai government had proposed setting up a bank account threshold of 50 million Thai baht to restrict local residents from entering casinos. However, some suggest replacing this restriction with a three-year tax record or an entry fee of 5000 Thai baht. Nontharit commented that although these measures might restrict gambling among low-income groups to some extent, they are unlikely to be very effective for those truly addicted to gambling. He worries that if casinos are fully opened, the phenomenon of gambling addiction in Thailand might significantly increase.
Beyond the direction of the gambling industry's development, economist Aat Pisanwanich believes that Thailand's economic growth should not depend solely on casinos. He suggests that the government should invest in modern agriculture to meet global market demands. He pointed out that instead of spending hundreds of billions of Thai baht to build casino complexes, it would be better to use these funds to promote sustainable agriculture, enhance agricultural value-added, and meet the trends of a globally aging society and health-conscious consumers.
Aat further stated that Thailand should learn from the experiences of neighboring countries by investing in technology and innovative industries to attract foreign investment, rather than relying on the gambling industry. He emphasized that if the government focuses too much on casino projects, it might neglect the enhancement of industrial competitiveness, leading to stagnation in national economic development. He even warned that if casinos are legalized, Thailand could become a "gambling society," which would affect the development of other industries.
Regarding the potential risks of casino legalization, Suphan Mongkolsuthree, chairman of Synnex (Thailand), also expressed concerns. He believes that if the government wants to implement this project, it must establish strict legal regulations to prevent casinos from having a negative impact on society.
He stated that although entertainment complexes might help attract tourists, the legalization of casinos should be cautiously advanced to avoid adverse effects on Thai society and youth.
Meanwhile, former Bangkok senator Chermsak Pinthong questioned the government's real motives in promoting casinos.
He believes that from an economic perspective, gambling does not increase national income because it is essentially just a redistribution of wealth, not an economic value creator. He bluntly stated: "People's total income will not increase due to gambling, and I really cannot understand how casinos can promote national economic development."
Overall, although the government hopes to inject new momentum into Thailand's economy through the legalization of casinos, there is a huge divergence in views on this project across society.
Opponents believe that Thailand still has much room for industrial development, such as modernizing agriculture, esports, and technological innovation, rather than betting the country's future on the gambling industry. For the government, how to balance economic development and social responsibility will be a key challenge in the policy-making process in the future.
