Thai MPs Vote to Shelve Casino Legalization Proposal

Thailand’s push to legalize casino resorts has taken a step back. Lawmakers in the country’s House of Representatives voted in favor of a cabinet-backed request to withdraw the proposed Entertainment Complex Bill. The bill aimed to open the door for legal casinos in integrated resort settings, but now it has been shelved—at least for now.

Good to know

• The Entertainment Complex Bill was withdrawn with 253 votes in favor.
• No lawmakers abstained, though 65 voted against the withdrawal.
• Critics say the government has not explained the risks of casino legalization.

The House of Representatives voted 253 to 65 to approve the withdrawal of the Entertainment Complex Bill, according to Thai media outlet The Nation. No members abstained during the vote, which followed about two hours of debate. The bill had aimed to allow casino-style resorts as part of a wider entertainment and tourism development plan.

Interestingly, some lawmakers who voted against the withdrawal also oppose legalizing casinos. Parit Wacharasindhu, a list MP from the People’s Party, voiced concerns that the government is buying time to eventually push the bill forward under a different strategy. He criticized the administration for not providing enough information about the possible negative consequences of legalizing casinos and confirmed that his party remains opposed to the idea.

Another voice of concern came from Anutin Charnvirakul, a former interior minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, which recently moved into opposition after leaving the ruling coalition. He pointed to declining Chinese tourism and said the Pheu Thai Party, a key player in the government, had failed to fully consider warnings from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to Anutin, President Xi had previously told then-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra that legalizing casinos could bring social harm. That conversation took place during her official visit to China earlier this year.

Paetongtarn Shinawatra is currently suspended from office, following an investigation into a leaked phone call she had in June with Cambodia’s former prime minister, Hun Sen. Her temporary removal from office took effect on July 1.

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