Thailand’s Casino Industry Faces Setback Amid PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Suspension
Tuesday 08 de July 2025 / 12:00
⏱ 1 min read
(Bangkok).- The so-called “entertainment complex” bill, which aimed to authorise casinos and position Thailand as a regional gambling hub, was shelved amid mounting political uncertainty after PM Paetongtarn’s suspension from office last week
Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday (July 8) dropped a bill to legalise casino gambling, dealing a blow to a key initiative of the embattled ruling Pheu Thai party and its recently suspended prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The so-called “entertainment complex” bill, which aimed to authorise casinos and position Thailand as a regional gambling hub, was seen as a flagship project for the Pheu Thai government. The party argued the bill would bring an existing underground gambling economy into the mainstream and help revitalise the country’s sluggish economy.
But the proposal has now been shelved, amid mounting political uncertainty after the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn from office last week. She is under investigation for an alleged ethics violation related to her handling of a territorial dispute with neighbouring Cambodia.
Bill pulled amid political vacuum
Government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab said the cabinet decided to withdraw the bill because it “needs more studies that require further understanding and social context.”
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat also acknowledged the timing was unfavourable. “We accept it’s not the appropriate time,” he told reporters. “It’s a shame, the delay is a lost opportunity for the country.”
The legislation had been a controversial but central component of Pheu Thai’s economic agenda. Most forms of gambling remain illegal in Thailand, but Pheu Thai had pushed the bill as a pragmatic solution to both crack down on illegal betting and attract new revenue.
Categoría:Legislation
Tags: Sin tags
País: Thailand
Región: Asia
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