The "Entertainment Places Act" in Thailand was suddenly withdrawn by the government recently, and the draft bill on casino legalization that was scheduled for discussion in the parliament was temporarily canceled, triggering strong backlash from both the political arena and the public. Bunida, spokesperson for the opposition "Proud to Be Thai Party" and MP from Ubon, stated bluntly: The government has not truly abandoned the casino policy, but rather chose to "avoid the sharp edges" due to fears of a voting failure leading to a political crisis.
Bunida revealed that more than 30 members of the ruling coalition have publicly opposed the bill, worrying that establishing "entertainment complexes" is merely a disguised form of "casino legalization." If the vote is forcibly pushed through, it could lead to political instability, and even affect the stability of the Prime Minister's position.
She questioned the government's motives: "If they truly intend to give up, they should make an official declaration in the parliament and not bring up the draft again. Otherwise, withdrawing the bill is just a delaying tactic, waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback." The bill was originally promoted as a strategic measure to "stimulate investment and boost the economy," but its sudden withdrawal on the eve of the vote has led to suspicions of political maneuvering.
The Proud to Be Thai Party has made it clear: as long as the government does not explicitly abandon the casino legislation, they will continue to strongly oppose it. "Our opposition is to the opaque operations behind it, not to economic revitalization." Bunida calls for the government to hold public debates and let the parliament make a real decision based on public opinion.
Currently, Thai society remains highly divided on the issue of casino legalization. Although the withdrawal of the bill has eased surface disputes, it has not eliminated political suspicions. Whether the government will restart the casino issue remains closely watched.
