Members of both the coalition Bhumjaithai Party and the opposition Democrat Party have voiced their opposition to the government’s entertainment complex bill, expressing concerns that its benefits will not outweigh the negative consequences.
Chaichanok Chidchob, secretary-general of Bhumjaithai, stated after a coalition meeting on Tuesday that the party opposes the bill for four main reasons.
Firstly, he indicated that the bill would not address the issue of illegal gambling and might exacerbate gambling problems in both the new legal sector and the underground grey market. Secondly, he argued that the projected benefits to the state and public finances do not justify the required level of investment. Thirdly, he stated that utilizing casinos to boost tourism is unnecessary, given the wealth of well-known attractions already present throughout the country. Lastly, he noted that the bill does not clearly outline how Thai workers would secure employment.
In parallel, Chaichana Detdecho, deputy secretary-general of the Democrat Party, urged for a reevaluation of the bill, questioning whether Thailand could replicate the growth seen in Macau and countries like Vietnam and Singapore as a result of this legislation. “The Democrat Party cannot support this bill,” Mr. Chaichana declared, suggesting that if the government aims to enhance national revenue, it should instead consider legalizing and taxing the long-standing underground lotteries.
Suchatvee Suwansawat, deputy leader of the Democrat Party, shared his concerns on Facebook following the coalition meeting held on National Mother’s Day, labeling gambling as detrimental to family values. He expressed doubts about the potential to attract foreign tourists to Thai casinos, given the existence of similar facilities in neighboring countries. Consequently, he suggested that these casinos would inevitably have to focus on local Thai customers.
Mr. Suchatvee also highlighted the shortcomings of integrated entertainment complexes in neighboring nations, where promises of job creation for locals were largely unmet, aside from a limited number of low-level positions. He emphasized the troubling association between casinos and serious crime, particularly money laundering, particularly near the Thai border, indicating that these issues are challenging to control.
According to a source, the Entertainment Complex project, which received initial approval from the cabinet in April, aims to provide an economic boost as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin enters the second year of his administration.
