A Senate committee has recommended that any future casino legalisation proposals be subject to a national referendum.
Thailand.- The Senate has rejected a proposed bill to legalise integrated entertainment complexes with casinos. The decision aligns with the stance of newly elected prime minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who opposed casino legalisation before assuming office on September 5, 2025.
The bill, introduced under Paetongtarn Shinawatra, aimed to boost Thailand’s tourism revenue. A 2024 study by Maybank Securities projected that casino complexes could generate THB187bn (US$5.14bn) annually. The plan was to impose a competitive 17 per cent casino tax rate compared to higher rates in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Macau.
However, a special Senate committee, chaired by senator Veerapun Suvannamai, concluded that the economic benefits were overstated, warning that revenue would largely redistribute wealth rather than create new economic value. The committee also highlighted risks of increased money laundering, erosion of public trust and high infrastructure costs.
Senators expressed concerns about the bill’s intent and impact. Senator Sitthikorn Thongyos pointed to recent government actions, such as the reclassification of poker and promotion of retirement lotteries, as normalising gambling behaviour, potentially paving the way for broader legalisation.
The Senate committee recommended that any future casino legalisation proposals be subject to a national referendum to ensure public participation and legitimacy. Senator Sornchat Vichaya Suwannaprom proposed a new study group to explore alternatives, such as entertainment complexes without gambling, “limited-access” casino zones restricted to tourists or regulated online gambling platforms.
A Senate committee has recommended that any future casino legalisation proposals be subject to a national referendum. Thailand.- The Senate has rejected a proposed bill to legalise integrated entertainment complexes…
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