Former Thai senators urge MPs to reject casino and online gambling bills
Some 189 senators have urged the government to focus on the aftermath of the March 28 earthquake rather than rush through casino and online gambling bills.
Thailand.- A group of 189 former senators, including three ex-senate speakers, have issued a public statement urging the government, MPs and political parties not to support or enact Thailand’s casino and online gambling bills. They argue that the government seems more concerned with getting casino and online gambling legalisation passed before April 10 than responding to people affected by the March 28 earthquake.
According to The Nation, the group of former senators accused the government of rushing these bills without first including them in its policy agenda. They questioned whether a special committee should have absolute control over casino operations, which they said could lead to excessive power with little oversight.
The group said the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council had stated that casinos and online gambling would not contribute to GDP growth as money would simply change hands rather than stimulate the economy. They also suggested the legalisation could lead to an increase in call centre scams, transborder crimes, prostitution and robberies.
They claimed that casinos had not brought prosperity to the Philippines, Myanmar or Cambodia despite years of operations. The statement was endorsed by former senate speakers Manoonkrit Rupkhachorn, Thiradej Meepian, and Pornpetch Wichitcholchai. The signatories urged political leaders, including house speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, to oppose the proposed laws.
The senate will form a committee to study the effects of the bill to legalise casinos. Pisit Apiwattanapong, a senator and spokesman for the senate committee, said two motions related to this project will be discussed at an April 8 meeting.
It’s been reported that anti-casino advocates plan to rally outside parliament next Thursday (April 10). However, chief government whip Wisut Chainarun said that the bill will not be reviewed on Thursday but on April 9 as Thursday’s meeting will focus on the recent earthquake.
The draft legislation, approved by cabinet on March 27, would allow entertainment complexes with casinos in designated areas operated by companies registered in Thailand with a minimum paid-up capital of THB10bn (US$283m). A policy panel led by the prime minister and a regulatory agency would oversee the industry. The government would consider what types of projects and offerings would be considered. Casinos would occupy less than 10 per cent of each complex.
The draft bill stipulates that Thais wanting to access a casino would be required to pay a fee of THB5,000 (US$150) and show proof of at least THB50m (US$1.5m) in fixed deposits.
