Casino Legislation Deemed Potential Threat
Revised Article:
The gambling-amusement complex bill has lit a political powder keg under the Pheu Thai-headed administration, yet the fate of this explosive legislation remains uncertain when it gets a vote in parliament.
The political bomb was initially meant to be defused during an initial House reading on April 9, but the government's rush to speed up the discussion met resistance, causing a postponement until the upcoming parliament session in July.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, also Pheu Thai leader, maintained that the government hasn't abandoned the bill, but has pressing matters on the agenda, like the US's reciprocal tariffs.
She commented that the government would continue to gather public feedback and clearly present the project's intentions, while opponents of the bill – containing provisions to legalize casinos as part of entertainment complexes – demand its outright rejection.
The way this volatile situation unfolds depends on how each party navigates it during the next parliament session.
Possible scenarios for this high-stakes situation involve:
- Patience: If the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration decides to wait it out, the government is expected to conclude its term reasonably stress-free, provided its economic plan succeeds and society warms up to the bill, allowing the next general election to approach.
- Full Steam Ahead: If the government pushes the bill with all coalition parties in agreement, the government will become the focus of criticism from those who oppose casinos. The ruling Pheu Thai Party and Bhumjaithai, the second-largest party in the coalition, would need to rally around each other to regain support.
- Bhumjaithai's Dilemma: If Bhumjaithai distances itself from the bill, the Pheu Thai-led government would lose Bhumjaithai with a razor-thin majority in the House, forcing it to seek aid from smaller parties to survive its term. However, Bhumjaithai, which currently oversees the Interior Ministry, will also have to pay a price for rejecting the bill, potentially losing control of the ministry and crucial political ties, seen as key tools for strengthening support.
Thanaporn Sriyakul, director of the Political and Public Policy Analysis Institute, remarked that the bill presents the government and Bhumjaithai Party with a tricky conundrum.
Bhumjaithai has been in an awkward position since party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob's declaration of not supporting casinos, according to Thanaporn.
If the party acts as an opponent within the government, it cannot continue being part of the coalition. Conversely, if the party backs the bill, Mr Chaichanok would face intense questioning for doing so, considering his conservative image, Thanaporn explained.
Bhumjaithai leader Anutin Charnvirakul would also face sharp criticism for embracing casinos, which could raise questions about his ethics, Thanaporn added.
"Even if Bhumjaithai doesn't support the bill, the government is unlikely to collapse. It would still hold the majority, albeit a precarious one. It can persuade the Palang Pracharath Party [PPRP] to help plug the gap. Ultimately, no party wants to be in the opposition," Thanaporn said.
He shrugged off concerns that the casino-amusement complex bill could lead to an avalanche of ethics complaints, which may impact government stability. He noted that the bill is government-sponsored, and ethics complaints can be filed whenever needed.
In short, Bhumjaithai faces a tough choice, with more to lose than gain, according to Thanaporn.
"Can the party create a fuss about the bill and stay within the coalition? Does it dare abandon the coalition? I don't think so. And if it performs a U-turn to support the bill, it will be doomed," Thanaporn concluded.
Thanaporn is confident that the Pheu Thai Party will move forward with the casino-amusement complex project, as they've likely examined the risks and found the benefits to outweigh them. The bill was approved by the cabinet on March 27, as part of the government's plans to boost the economy by reducing reliance on seasonal tourism.
It is estimated to generate 119-283 billion baht annually and attract a 5-10% increase in foreign visitors to Thailand. The complexes will primarily consist of concert halls, indoor sports arenas, water parks, and/or hotels, with casinos making up only 10% of the space.
- The parliament's vote on the gambling-amusement complex bill remains uncertain, with the government's focus on US reciprocal tariffs and the bill's controversial nature causing a postponement until July.
- Opponents of the bill, including certain parliament members, demand its outright rejection, citing concerns about casino-games and the impact on casino-culture in Thailand.
- Thanaporn Sriyakul commented that the bill presents a tricky conundrum for the Bhumjaithai Party, as party leader Anutin Charnvirakul would face criticism for embracing gambling legislations, potentially raising questions about his ethics.
- Thanaporn also noted that, regardless of the bill's outcome, the Pheu Thai Party is expected to move forward with the casino-amusement complex project, as they see the benefits outweighing the risks, aligning with their policy-and-legislation agenda.
- In the short term,the bill's passing could generate 119-283 billion baht annually and attract a 5-10% increase in foreign visitors to Thailand, while casinos would make up only 10% of the space in the complexes.
- The future of the bill unfolding in the upcoming parliament session will have a significant impact on the political landscape, as well as the parliament and casino-personalities involved, making it a topic of general-news interest for many.
