Former Thai PM and deputy finance minister invited to Senate committee meeting on casino bill
Abhisit Vejjajiv and Julapun Amornvivat have been called to a meeting scheduled for next Thursday.
Thailand.- The Senate committee reviewing the bill to legalise casino resorts in Thailand has called former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat to a meeting on Thursday (June 5). According to the Bangkok Post, it will be Julapun’s second time attending a Senate meeting to explain the rationale behind the proposed legislation.
At a meeting on May 29, the committee heard from Chidtawan Chanakul from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Economics and representatives from a youth network against gambling, Sornsit Krimjai and Thanaphat Chaloemrat. Chidtawan suggested that any jobs created by casinos will be low skilled and argued that illegal casinos would still exist, as demonstrated in more developed countries.
Sornsit and Thanaphat expressed concerns that allowing entertainment complexes with casinos could be perceived as encouraging gambling. They raised concerns that this could lead young people to neglect their education in favour of seeking quick money through gambling.
The government delayed discussion of the casino bill until the next parliamentary session, which starts on July 2 due to the issues of US tariffs and April’s earthquake. Prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra hsa said the bill would boost the country’s economy and bring the country in line with a global trend.
Shinawatra accused opposition parties of misinforming the public about the contents of the bill and said it would be difficult for Thai citizens to gamble in casinos due to checks on their financial and criminal backgrounds.
