Thailand has postponed a parliamentary debate on a bill that would legalise casinos amid mounting opposition and a concerning international trade environment.
According to Bloomberg, parliament will not consider the Entertainment Complex Business Act on Wednesday as previously scheduled. However, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasised that the government is not withdrawing the proposal.
After meeting with leaders of political parties in her coalition, Paetongtarn noted that the government will continue to listen to all opinions. She indicated that the bill might be presented to parliament in its next session.
The prime minister argued that critics of the bill have focused solely on the casino aspect, while the proposed entertainment complexes would offer leisure activities for everyone, including children. She also rejected speculation that casinos would appear throughout the country, stating they would only be located in approved resorts.
“We will continue to communicate so that people will have a better understanding,” Paetongtarn said.
The government’s priority now is to address the crisis resulting from the United States’ decision to impose a 36 per cent tariff on Thai products, along with the aftermath of the deadly earthquake that struck Bangkok last month, the prime minister stated on Tuesday.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
