The Thai government's recently promoted "Casino Entertainment Complex Act" is currently facing an unprecedented political and social crisis. As over a hundred anti-gambling activists gathered in front of the government building on July 2nd to submit a petition demanding the withdrawal of the bill and related gambling law amendments, the government's pressure surged, and the cabinet was forced to initiate emergency consultations, considering withdrawing the topic before the parliamentary session on July 9th in response to strong public dissatisfaction.
Chousak Sirinil, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office, confirmed to the media that the government is assessing whether to temporarily shelve or completely revoke the bill. He stated, "To withdraw the bill, approval from both the cabinet and the parliament is required, but if there is no objection from the parliament, the related procedures can also be directly terminated."
Chousak further pointed out that after the recent cabinet reshuffle, the stance of the new ministers has become key, "We are currently recounting the support votes to assess whether there is still a possibility to push forward." He emphasized that it is crucial to ensure that the new cabinet members fully understand the content of the bill before deciding on the next steps.
Deputy Minister of Transportation, Manapon Charoenchai, also revealed that informal coordination has been initiated within the government, and a special meeting is planned for July 7th to enhance the explanation of the "entertainment complex" concept. He stated, "Many people still misunderstand the true essence of this project, and it is the government's responsibility to further communicate."
Despite the government's attempts to alleviate the public opinion storm, opposition has already spread widely. A group formed by the Anti-Casino Alliance and Anti-Online Gambling Organization has officially jointly demanded a complete withdrawal of the bill. Tanakorn, Secretary-General of the Stop Gambling Foundation, criticized that pushing forward casino legislation in the current context of economic downturn, political instability, and frequent environmental issues will exacerbate social divisions.
Waxin, a representative of the Public Health Risk Management Network, warned that the casino entertainment parks would bring a series of social issues, including increased mental health risks, rising crime, and spreading debt. "In Thailand, where the gap between rich and poor is vast and corruption issues are deeply rooted, introducing such projects is like adding fuel to the fire," he said.
As public opinion continues to rise, whether the government will choose to compromise or persist in pushing forward has become an important test of the current ruling team's political judgment and social response capabilities.
