Thailand's Senate Wants Additional Studies of Casino Proposal
Thailand's Senate plans to establish a special committee to evaluate the potential impacts of legalizing casinos as part of a broader Entertainment Complex Bill. The move will follow the House of Representatives' formal review of the bill, which has been scheduled for April 9.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Senate spokesman Pisit Apiwattanapong confirmed the plan today. He indicated that the committee will take on the responsibility of conducting a detailed assessment once the House has completed its discussions.
Related: Legal Casino Resorts in Thailand One Step Closer to ApprovalThe Entertainment Complex Bill was initially expected to be addressed this week; however, time constraints and other legislative priorities delayed its examination. The House will now consider the legislation on the upcoming Wednesday, providing lawmakers an opportunity to debate the bill's provisions and objectives.
In anticipation of the House session, the Senate has added two motions related to the bill to its agenda for April 8. These motions are expected to lay the groundwork for the formation of the study committee tasked with evaluating the proposed casino legalization framework.
Within the Senate, opinions on the bill are divided. Many members believe that any decision on casino legalization should be contingent on the outcome of a national referendum. This sentiment reflects ongoing concerns about the societal implications of allowing legal casino gambling, as well as the need for more public input before moving forward with any formal legislation.
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Criticism Grows with New Opposition
The push for further study comes amid growing criticism of the bill. Opponents have raised alarms over what they view as an accelerated legislative process, arguing that the bill is being fast-tracked without comprehensive feasibility assessments. These concerns have been echoed by analysts and advocacy groups who argue that the government should not proceed with the bill without fully understanding its economic, social, and regulatory impacts.
An analysis published earlier this week by Inside Asian Gaming outlined significant issues with the bill's current form. One clause in particular has attracted controversy for its requirement that Thai nationals possess at least THB 50 million, or US$1.5 million, in fixed deposits for six months in order to gain access to legal casinos. Critics argue that this stipulation would limit access to only the wealthiest citizens, raising questions about fairness and social equity.
The same analysis suggested that, at this point, only about six international casino operators are expected to participate in bidding for licenses should the bill be enacted. This has raised questions about the level of competition and transparency in the licensing process, especially considering the potential scale of the proposed entertainment complexes.
Adding to the opposition, a coalition of 189 former senators, including three individuals who previously served as Senate speakers, released a formal statement urging the government and all political parties to reject both the Entertainment Complex Bill and a related bill concerning online gambling. They asserted that the government should prioritize disaster relief and public well-being following the March 28 earthquake rather than advancing contentious legislation during the final days of the parliamentary session.
The group further appealed to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and leaders of all political parties to block the two bills. They warned that allowing the legislation to pass could lead to serious national consequences. The statement urged the government to immediately withdraw both bills from consideration in the House, citing the lack of consensus and the rushed nature of the process as justification for halting their progression.
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