National —
At 6:05 PM on August 13th, 2024, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin addressed the Bhumjaithai Party’s opposition to the Entertainment/Casino Complex Bill.
This comes after the Bhumjaithai party has officially said that in its current form they disagree with legal casinos in entertainment complexes and believe they will not benefit Thai society or the economy.
Srettha acknowledged that as a coalition partner, Bhumjaithai has the right to express its views in a democratic manner. Srettha emphasized the importance of discussing this sensitive issue, given that Bhumjaithai represents many provinces with over 70 MPs and also makes up over seventy percent of the Senate.
Furthermore, Srettha stated that there are no problems in reaching an understanding with the coalition parties and stressed the value of diverse opinions in shaping decisions that benefit Thai society as a whole.
Regarding the suggestion of holding a referendum on the matter, Srettha noted that the idea of an entertainment complex has been discussed for decades, and while gambling is already prevalent in society, it’s crucial to openly address how it should be regulated.
Srettha believed Bhumjaithai is open to the concept but highlighted the need for further discussions with other coalition parties to determine the best approach.
TPN notes that the proposal of an entertainment complex with a legal casino would not legalize gambling overall, or even private gambling games at home. The proposal would have many rules and restrictions and the few legal casinos allowed under this proposal could only be in large complexes with multiple other amenities like hotels, amusement parks, restaurants, etc.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
