Thai Government to Decide Monday on Controversial Casino Project

The Thai government may pull back from advancing a controversial casino-entertainment complex bill, with a final decision expected on Monday, according to a report from the Bangkok Post on Friday. The bill, originally marked for urgent progress in the current parliamentary session, is now under review following a recent cabinet reshuffle.

Good to know

• The government will decide Monday whether to postpone or fully withdraw the casino bill.
• The bill was once labeled urgent but has now taken a backseat to amnesty legislation.
• The Senate committee has raised 12 major concerns and will seek clarification on July 17.

Chousak Sirinil, Prime Minister’s Office Minister and Pheu Thai Party-list MP, said the government is weighing whether to delay or completely remove the bill from the House agenda. He explained that while formal withdrawal usually needs a House resolution, it could be done quickly if there are no objections from MPs.

Chousak pointed to the recent cabinet changes as a reason for the pause, saying, “The government likely believes the matter should be thoroughly reviewed and discussed again to ensure it is sufficiently prepared before proceeding.”

Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri added that the final decision will be discussed with Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, who is overseeing the casino project. She confirmed the topic will be on the table during the government whip committee meeting on Monday.

The bill had been scheduled for review during the new legislative session, which began earlier this week. However, the government now appears to be prioritizing an amnesty bill, shifting focus away from the casino project.

Meanwhile, Senator Weeraphan Suwannamai, who chairs the Senate committee studying the proposal, said there are serious concerns about transparency and missing information. He claimed the government might be holding back key details about the project’s structure and implications.

In response, the Senate has invited a representative of suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to appear before the committee on July 17 to answer 12 questions related to the project. These include whether casino revenue is central to the plan, whether five casinos have already been approved, if using land at Klong Toey Port violates expropriation laws, and how licensing of operators will be handled.

For now, the casino bill’s future remains uncertain, with Monday’s discussions set to determine its next step.

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