Thai PM: Legalise gambling to tackle existing illegal gambling
The Prime Minister says the move will bring gambling businesses under government control, especially long-existing illegal operators.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has said legalising gambling would be one way to tackle the existing illegal gambling issues in Thailand.
According to Thai media reports, the Prime Minister voiced the statement during an interview. He said these illegal businesses, which have been operating in Thailand for some time, are “worth trillions of baht but are not contributing to the nation,” further elaborating that it is time to “legalise these gambling businesses” and “reap more tax revenue from them.”
Just recently, Thailand’s Deputy Finance Minister said the final draft for the ‘casino bill’ would be ready in four weeks’ time.
If passed, the bill would allow for casinos to be built within 5% of space in an entertainment establishment. The findings by 16 relevant government agencies have estimated these projects to bring in at least TBH30bn to TBH50bn (US$0.8bn to US$1.3bn) in investments to the country.
However, the agencies have also acknowledged that related existing laws would need necessary adjustments if Thailand legalises casinos and its gambling industry.
Thailand’s plans to legalise gambling has caught the interests of MGM China and Galaxy, as well as Genting Singapore.
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