House debate on Thailand’s controversial Entertainment Complex Bill will be delayed by only a month, the ruling Pheu Thai Party said Monday – seemingly allaying industry fears that the bill could be dropped altogether.
In comments reported by The Bangkok Post, Pheu Thai MP and spokesman Danuporn Punnakanta said the government fully intends to push ahead with its casino plans pending a comprehensive review of the bill’s contents, particularly those related to access for Thai locals and money laundering controls.
Asked if the delay – the bill was originally on the House agenda for 3 July – was due to the recent departure of the Bhumjaithai Party from the coalition, Danuporn claimed that he has spoken with many Bhumjaithai members and many secretly agree with the bill. That’s despite the Bhumjaithai-dominated senate last week calling for the bill to be permanently dumped.
In the meantime, he explained, the government is working with the Anti-Money Laundering Office and others to develop robust preventative money laundering and responsible gambling measures. These measures would take into account the experiences of leading integrated resort hubs like Singapore and Macau.
With the Entertainment Complex Bill temporarily off the agenda, the House will instead debate four political amnesty bills from 9 July aimed at fostering national reconciliation, according to The Bangkok Post’s report.
