On the afternoon of April 1st, a large-scale protest erupted in front of the Thai government building. Demonstrators held up banners strongly opposing the "Comprehensive Entertainment Center" bill, which involves the legalization of casinos. The protest was initiated by former House of Representatives member and chairman of the "Anti-Dictatorship Democratic Alliance" Red Shirt organization, Jatuporn Prompan, and was joined by various local Thai groups, including the United Reform Thailand Group, the Thai People's Royal Protection Center, and the Fair Guard Organization, calling on the government to stop pushing the legal casino plan.
Protest scene: Angry citizens gather at the government building, chanting slogans
Protesters gathered in front of the Bangkok government building, waving the Thai flag and holding banners saying "Casinos out of Thailand!", "Say no to casinos!", "14th floor! Scammers! Go to hell!" and other slogans, denouncing the government's decision to promote legal casinos. The demonstration attracted a large number of participants, creating a striking scene, and the police had to deploy forces to maintain order to prevent the situation from escalating.
It is reported that on March 27th, Jatuporn had led the same group in a protest and stated that actions would continue to escalate to stop the government from advancing the related bill. On the same day, the Thai cabinet passed the draft of the "Comprehensive Entertainment Center Act (including legal casinos)", which is expected to be submitted to the parliament for deliberation. This move has intensified public dissatisfaction, and the protest groups have vowed to continue demonstrating at the government's weekly cabinet meetings.
Opposition to legal casinos: Public concerns about social impact, government faces tremendous pressure
The passage of the "Comprehensive Entertainment Center" bill means that the Thai government is moving towards the legalization of casinos, a decision that has sparked strong opposition from all walks of life. Opponents believe that the legalization of casinos will exacerbate gambling problems, affect public security, lead to more family breakdowns, and even cause corruption and money laundering issues. Additionally, some citizens worry that the legalization of casinos will allow foreign capital to flood into Thailand, affecting the local economic ecosystem.
This protest activity has shown the strong resistance of Thai society to the legalization of casinos. As the bill progresses, the government will face greater public pressure, and the scale of future protests may continue to expand. The Thai political situation has thus entered a new round of controversy, and whether the government will compromise remains to be observed.
