On March 27, Thai Prime Minister Pei Tongtan chaired a cabinet meeting to formally review and pass the controversial draft of the "Comprehensive Entertainment Center Act (including legal casinos)." After four rounds of public consultation, the bill was approved with an 80% support rate and has now officially entered the parliamentary review process.
[Key Contents of the Bill]
Operational Scale Limitations:
The casino area must not exceed 10% of the total area of the comprehensive entertainment center
Only established in government-designated special economic zones
Access Mechanism for Local Players:
Thai citizens must present a fixed deposit certificate showing a continuous balance of no less than 50 million Thai Baht (approximately 10 million RMB) for six months
Foreign tourists are not subject to financial thresholds
Regulatory System:
An independent management committee will be established
A round-the-clock electronic surveillance system will be implemented
Mandatory anti-money laundering compliance reviews will be enforced
[Acceleration of Legislative Process]
It is noteworthy that the draft originally scheduled for submission on March 11 was postponed until after the no-confidence motion debate. Political observers point out that this move effectively avoided the opposition's opportunity to exploit the issue, demonstrating the Pei Tongtan government's adept political maneuvering.
[Solid Public Opinion Foundation]
In the last round of public consultation (February 28 - March 14), the bill received:
71,289 participants
57,031 supporters (80%)
14,258 opponents (20%)
[Subsequent Agenda]
The bill will proceed as follows:
① First reading in the House of Representatives (expected mid-April)
② Review by the Senate (early May)
③ Final review by the Privy Council
④ Effective after royal assent
[Estimated Economic Impact]
According to estimates by the Thai Ministry of Finance:
The first year could generate 12 billion Thai Baht in tax revenue
Drive employment in related industries with 50,000 job opportunities
Attract foreign investment worth 30 billion Thai Baht
[Points of Controversy]
Opposition groups question:
The high deposit threshold allegedly "greenlights the rich"
Potential to exacerbate money laundering risks
The potential impact on social mores
The spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, Girayu, emphasized: "The bill has been revised three times by the State Council, achieving a cautious balance between economic development and social control."
Note: According to the legislative process, even if the bill is passed by the parliament, it still needs to go through a 90-day public display period before it can be officially implemented. Tourism operators have already begun preparing supporting services, and the first comprehensive entertainment center is expected to start operations in Pattaya in 2026.
