The Thai government is accelerating the legalization process of the gambling industry, with the entertainment complex bill expected to be submitted to the parliament for deliberation on April 9. Despite some opposition, the government remains firm in its push, emphasizing that this is not only to promote economic development but also to strengthen the regulation of the gambling industry.
Government strongly pushes for casino legalization, Wisut responds to opposition
Mr. Wisut Chainarun, a member of the Thai party and chairman of the government party whip, who is responsible for coordinating government affairs, clearly stated that the deliberation of the bill will proceed as originally planned. Although there is opposition from some groups, the government is prepared and believes that the public's concerns can be resolved through reasonable explanations. He emphasized, "If you are afraid, don't do it. If you do it, you won't be afraid."
The core of the bill is to establish comprehensive entertainment venues, where gambling facilities only occupy 10% of the project area, with the rest covering five-star hotels, shopping centers, conference venues, etc. The government believes that the current prevalence of underground gambling activities is a fact, and rather than letting it exist unregulated, it is better to legalize and regulate it while creating tax revenue for the country.
Earthquake impact draws attention, Thai party proposes emergency motion
Meanwhile, an earthquake occurred in Thailand in early April, causing dissatisfaction among some of the public who believe that the government should prioritize post-disaster reconstruction work rather than promoting the casino bill. In response, the Thai party quickly acted, deciding to submit an emergency motion to the parliament on April 2 or 3 to discuss the impact of the earthquake and future response measures. The government stated that the post-disaster recovery work will not be affected by the advancement of the casino bill, and both can proceed simultaneously.
Thailand remains a safe investment and tourism destination
In response to some investors' concerns, Prime Minister Petong Sinawat spoke at the opening ceremony of the Thailand Investment and Foreign Nationals Service Center (TIESC), emphasizing Thailand's safety. She stated that the damage caused by the earthquake was limited, and the government has taken necessary measures to ensure public safety and will continue to improve infrastructure construction to provide a stable environment for investors and tourists.
Political turmoil in Thailand, former MP Sira Jenjaka sentenced
In addition to the casino bill and earthquake issues, significant events have also occurred in Thai politics recently. The Criminal Court ruled that former MP Sira Jenjaka, knowing he was not qualified, still ran for MP and was sentenced to one year in prison and disqualified from running for the next 20 years. This case has attracted public attention and highlighted the complex situation in Thai politics.
Fiscal challenges remain, government faces budget deficit pressure
In fiscal terms, the Thai government announced the 2026 budget, totaling 3.78 trillion Thai baht, an increase of 0.7% from the previous year. However, due to issues with the execution of the 2024 budget, the government needs to allocate 123.551 billion Thai baht to fill the treasury gap, reducing the actual available funds to 3.66 trillion Thai baht. The deficit is as high as 860 billion Thai baht, accounting for 4.3% of GDP, raising concerns about fiscal sustainability.
Summary: Casino bill advances, Thai economy and politics face challenges
Despite resistance to the entertainment complex bill, the government continues to push forward, attempting to drive tourism and investment growth through legalization. Meanwhile, factors such as post-earthquake recovery, fiscal deficit issues, and political turmoil will also affect Thailand's future development direction. Whether Thailand can balance economic development and social stability under these changes remains to be observed.
