Thai Ministry of Finance expects casino bill to pass first reading in parliament this week

The bill to allow casino resorts is scheduled for review tomorrow.

Thailand.- Deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat has said he is confident that the bill to legalise casino resorts in Thailand will pass its first reading in Parliament tomorrow (April 9). The second and third readings could take place when parliament reconvenes in July.

According to The Nation, Amornvivat said that if the draft legislation is approved, a 31-member committee will be formed to study the proposal in detail. Amornvivat will chair the committee, which will include members of the cabinet, political parties, academic institutions, relevant government agencies and potentially external experts.

The deputy finance minister said he would select representatives from the Pheu Thai Party. He added that all committee members must maintain a positive image, ensuring no one uses the position for personal gain. Amornvivat cited past experiences, such as a 2005 committee with a larger number of members that failed to enact legislation, as a reason for keeping the group smaller and more focused.

Amornvivat said the government aims to create the Entertainment Complex Office during its time in office. This would decide how many licences would be auctioned.

The government envisions complexes that combine a casino with modern infrastructure including sports stadiums, concert halls, world-class amusement and water parks and luxury shopping malls featuring international brands.

Authorities plan to follow Singapore’s model, imposing a 12 per cent tax on gambling revenue from VIP customers and 18 per cent from general customers. There will also be revenue from corporate taxes and value-added tax (VAT).

Amornvivat said the draft law’s requirement for Thai nationals to pay a fee of THB5,000 (US$150) and show proof of at least THB50m (US$1.5m) in fixed deposits could still be adjusted at the committee stage.

See also: Thai Fiscal Policy Office issues 12-point statement backing casino bill