Opposition to the Entertainment Complex bill is gaining momentum as doctors, academics, and schools unite in anti-casino protests ahead of the House’s consideration of the bill this Wednesday.
On Saturday, a coalition of 37 senior doctors from Chulalongkorn University voiced their concerns against the bill, arguing that Thailand’s existing patronage system and weak law enforcement present an unsuitable environment for such a significant change. They warned that legalizing casinos and online gambling could exacerbate social issues, trapping individuals in a cycle of gambling and leading to increased crime rates, drug problems, human trafficking, money laundering, and other illicit activities.
“The economy will not improve as claimed; instead, legal casinos could result in catastrophe for the country,” they stated, demanding the government withdraw the bill to maintain social stability.
Other groups have also joined the opposition to the casino-entertainment complex bill, which has intensified recently amid allegations that the government is pushing it forward too quickly, despite pressing issues such as the recent earthquake in Myanmar and significant U.S. tariffs on imports.
Critics now include members of the Academy of Moral and Political Science at the Royal Society of Thailand. At a recent assembly, the academy backed a study by one of its members, Woradej Chantharasorn, who recommended that the government either cancel or postpone the bill. If the government chooses to proceed with the bill, they urged the implementation of additional measures to tackle the potential social issues and criminal activities arising from legalized casinos.
The Catholic Education Council of Thailand also publicly opposed the casino bill on Thursday, asserting that gambling undermines moral values. They stated that all 387 Catholic schools in Thailand stand united against the government’s plans to legalize casinos and online gambling. The council called on the government to protect children by abandoning these plans and finding ways to promote a sustainable, fair economy without dependence on gambling revenue.
Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the People’s Unity Group, has encouraged the public to participate in a protest on Wednesday against the initial reading of the bill. The government is receiving strong criticism for attempting to expedite the discussion of the entertainment-casino complex bill in parliament, despite the absence of a comprehensive feasibility study backing it.
During a parliamentary session on Thursday, after the Pheu Thai Party proposed accelerating the review to Wednesday, the opposition raised concerns about possible undue influence from private investors on government policy. People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut informed reporters that he submitted a motion during the meeting to prioritize discussions regarding the recent earthquake’s impact in the next parliamentary session. However, the Pheu Thai Party ultimately prioritized the entertainment complex bill instead. Mr. Natthaphong suggested that the government’s shift in focus was due to concerns that an extended debate on the earthquake response could lead to inadequate attendance, jeopardizing the quorum necessary for a vote on the casino bill.
