Thailand’s opposition People’s Party has joined a coalition of civic groups in calling for the government to withdraw the two bills that would legalize land-based and online casino style gambling across the country.
According to The Bangkok Post, the groups gathered outside the Government House on Wednesday to submit a petition to suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in relation to the bills. The groups were led by the secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, Thanakorn Khomkrit, who notably withdrew from last month’s Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable at short notice where he and other opposing voices had been due to engage in fact-based discussion with representatives of leading integrated resort operators Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts and Wynn Resorts.
As per The Bangkok Post’s report, Thanakorn said the bills could fuel social division and distract from more urgent issues such as the economy, environmental crises and political instability.
“If these policies are truly important, Pheu Thai should propose them as part of their platform in the next election and let the public decide,” he said.
People’s Party spokesman Parit Wacharasindhu – who did take part in TECR where he also spoke to Inside Asian Gaming about his concerns – was likewise critical of the government for pursuing casino legislation ahead of more pressing national concerns.
“If the government sincerely considered the concerns raised by opposition parties and segments of the public, it should withdraw the bill,” he said.
The two bills being questioned by the groups include the Entertainment Complex Bill that would legalize land-based casino gambling and another that would amend existing laws to allow online gambling.
Under pressure on multiple fronts, the ruling coalition last week withdrew discussion of the Entertainment Complex Bill from the parliament’s agenda for its next meeting on 9 July, declaring it would postpone such a reading by a month but would not drop it altogether.
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