BANGKOK, Feb 12 — Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has defended her government’s casino-entertainment complex project, despite concerns raised by Chinese President Xi Jinping over potential crime risks.
BANGKOK, Feb 12 — Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has defended her government’s casino-entertainment complex project, despite concerns raised by Chinese President Xi Jinping over potential crime risks.
During her recent visit to China, Paetongtarn discussed the proposal with Xi, who warned that legalising casinos could lead to increased criminal activity in Thailand, The Bangkok Post reported.
Paetongtarn assured that the project would be part of a larger integrated complex, with the casino occupying less than 10% of the space. She also emphasized that illegal gambling dens are already operating in the country, with profits going unregulated. "Legalising them would allow the government to collect revenue and use it for national development," she said.
The casino proposal, first introduced in Parliament in September 2023, is a key policy of the Pheu Thai-led government. Supporters argue that regulation would curb underground gambling and generate revenue.
On January 13, the Thai Cabinet approved a bill in principle to establish casino complexes. The bill is now under review, with revisions expected by early March before being forwarded to the House.
Despite government insistence that a referendum is unnecessary, a civil network is campaigning to collect 50,000 signatures to demand public input on the project.
If approved, casino operators would require a 30-year license, a 5 billion baht registration fee, and annual payments of 1 billion baht. Thai visitors would also need to pay an entrance fee, and those under 20 would be prohibited from entering.
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