Thai PM defends casino bill
Paetongtarn Shinawatra said entertainment complexes would boost the economy.
Thailand.- Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has defended the bill to legalise casino resorts in Thailand. She said certain groups were spreading misinformation about the contents of the proposed legislation.
During a meeting with senior government officials at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) headquarters in Bangkok, Shinawatra reiterated that gaming areas would occupy less than 10 per cent of each entertainment complex and that the bill would not allow anyone to open a casino anywhere other than the limited number of approved destinations.
Shinawatra said the move would create new job opportunities and improve skills development. She urged officials to clearly communicate these intentions to their teams and communities.
On Wednesday (April 9), the government postponed a parliamentary debate on the bill. Shinawatra said the government was focusing on the issues of US tariffs and the aftermath of last month’s earthquake. The bill will be reintroduced in the next parliamentary session.
Meanwhile, a group of about 100 civil society organisations has claimed that the cabinet rushed approval and ignored the concerns of lawmakers, academics and the public. An online survey conducted by the Ministry of Finance from February 28 to March 14 found that 80 per cent of people backed the country’s proposed casino legislation, but a more recent poll showed that many Thais have concerns about possible negative impacts.
