Bill to legalise gambling to be ready within month, says deputy PM
Law aims to decriminalise Thailand’s vast underground gambling industry and generate tax revenue
Following the Cabinet’s landmark nod on allowing entertainment complexes to be operated in Thailand, another law to legalise gambling activities in this Kingdom will be completed within a month, according to Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong.
Doubling as a digital minister, Prasert told media on Wednesday that the Cabinet meeting on Monday agreed to order the Digital and Interior Ministries as well as the Office of the Council of State to finish drafting a law to legalise gambling in the country within a month.
The law will be conducted in preparation for the administration’s entertainment complexes plan, according to Prasert.
The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft Entertainment Complex Business Act in principle, paving the way for casinos in Thailand.
The draft law aims to decriminalise the kingdom’s vast underground gambling industry, allowing the establishment of casino entertainment complexes to generate tax revenue. It will be sent to the House and Senate for deliberation before being enacted.
Prasert said that the digital ministry is responsible for the online gambling issue.
“Online gambling is a problem for society and the economy. Therefore, the solution is to bring illegal underground [gambling] up and legalise them. This will allow money outside the system to help stimulate the country's economy legally,” he said.
The ministry pointed to June and July of last year when, he claimed, the money circulating over betting skyrocketed due to the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship.
The government’s plan for casinos has faced criticism, including from former senator Wanlop Tangkananurak, who claimed that the initiative would affect the morality of Thai society.
“This will be disastrous to Thai society since it will change Thai society so much that it cannot be reversed. It will have a great impact on children, youth, and the new generation,” he said on Wednesday.
Wanlop also urged related bodies to look into this plan if there are any hidden agendas behind it.
