At a recent assembly on the government’s gaming initiative, Abhisit — prime minister of Thailand from 2008 until mid-2011 — advised lawmakers to think twice before legalising land-based and online casinos.
He called gambling a “major social problem” that negatively affects gamblers, their families and the community at large. He warned that casinos in Thailand could attract a criminal element and increase the threat of money laundering.
“This is dangerous”, Abhisit said of the plan. “Online gambling, in particular, will have a negative impact on society by increasing household debts and consequently, crime rates”.
Proponents argue that “entertainment complexes” with casinos will enhance Thailand’s appeal as an international destination, create tens of thousands of new jobs and regulate an industry that now flourishes underground.
It will also invite international investment. A number of multinational gaming operators have set their caps for Thailand, including the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, Galaxy Entertainment, Melco Resorts & Entertainment and Genting Malaysia.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat estimates the complexes could boost tourism revenue by as much as THB220 billion (£5 billion/€6.2 billion/$6.4 billion) and increase GDP by up to 5%.
A rush job?
Abhisit is part of a growing chorus of opposition to the bill, which is being hurried through legislative channels to stoke a flagging economy.
Last month, the Thai cabinet approved the bill “in principle”, pending further review and amendments. The measure is now before the Council of State (COS), a government advisory body, which has already expressed reservations about its content.
Members say the bill as it stands focuses on gaming at the expense of broader-based tourism attractions. COS Secretary-General Pakorn Nilprapunt objects to the fast-tracking of complex legislation.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra says lawmakers should do a better PR job.
“This issue is relatively new here, so we need to explain it clearly”, she said last month. “If we can ensure transparency, it will benefit the country. Ministries concerned will address the details to ensure so everyone gets the whole picture”.
“One of the worst pieces of legislation”
So far, the public and many opposition lawmakers aren’t convinced.
Last month, People’s Party MP Rangsiman Rome told the Post the bill is light on anti-money laundering (AML) checks. “Shady Chinese businesses have used Thailand as a base for illegal activities”, he said, “but the government has no clear measures to crack down on them”.
Thai Sang Thai Party (TST) leader Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan called the bill “one of the worst pieces of legislation ever written. This is not about economic growth — it’s about opening the door to legalised gambling with little oversight”.
In a January report, the Phuket News cited a source close to the National Economic and Social Development Council, who said the economic benefits of casinos may be overstated, as gaming revenue does not contribute to production.
A recent survey by the Centre for Gambling Studies found that half of 8,000 polled oppose legal casinos. The country’s Stop Gambling Foundation (SGF) has launched a petition drive, demanding a referendum on the measure. As of January, SGF Secretary-General Thanakorn Komkris told the Bangkok Post it had already gathered 70,000 signatures.
Healthcare experts add that an online gambling component would pose special risks to the young. The Thaiger quoted Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon, director of the ThaiHealth Promotion Foundation, who says more than four million youth and young adults in Thailand are already “hooked on gambling”, at risk to their mental and financial health.
That dependency has a ripple effect, he added. “One gambling addict affects 10-17 people close to them”.
Full speed ahead
Despite the opposition, the government says a public referendum is unnecessary, as legal gaming was a linchpin of Shinawatra’s campaign.
Asked about a referendum, another former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said, “No. Not necessary”.
The father of the sitting PM, de facto boss of the ruling Pheu Thai Party, said the complexes will provide a complete tourism experience, with hotels, restaurants, retail corridors, theme parks and concert arenas.
“Like in Singapore, the casino will take up less than 10% of the space”, he said. He added that the complexes will help address Thailand’s debt crisis and an economy that has yet to recover from Covid-19.
“All too often, people find all that’s left when they put their hands in their pockets are pawn tickets”, Thaksin said.
Secretary General Prommin Lertsuridej has said the legislation could become law within seven to nine months. The first resorts could open by 2029.
The draft bill calls for five locations: two in Bangkok and one each in Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Over time, lawmakers could licence up to 20 such complexes across the country.
Original article: https://igamingbusiness.com/casino/former-thailand-pm-warns-against-casinos-calls-proposal-dangerous/
