Protesters urge complete withdrawal of Thailand’s casino bill
Demonstrators say Government must drop gambling proposal, not simply delay it.
Key points:
– Protesters gathered outside Parliament calling for the bill to be scrapped
– Religious leaders and civic groups raised concerns over crime and regulation
– Prime Minister defended the plan as misunderstood and limited in scope
Opposition to Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill gained momentum on Wednesday as protest groups assembled outside Parliament, demanding that the Government withdraw the proposal entirely rather than postpone it.
The bill, which includes provisions to legalise casinos within integrated entertainment venues, was set for debate this week. However, parliamentary attention was redirected to the economic fallout from new US tariffs and recovery efforts following a recent earthquake.
Demonstrators expressed frustration that the Government had only delayed the debate. Warong Dechgitvigrom, leader of the Thai Pakdee Party, warned that further action would be taken if the bill were not removed from the agenda altogether.
Civic leaders voiced deep concerns about the proposal. Pichit Chaimongkol, head of the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, said the inclusion of casinos would be harmful to the public and potentially serve private interests. Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana also submitted a petition opposing the bill, stating that casinos could lead to widespread social issues.
Khumphong Phumphukhieo, a protest organiser, cited fears of increased money laundering and questioned the government’s ability to manage such projects transparently. Protesters referenced the digital wallet handout scheme as an example of previous mismanagement.
Former senator Somchai Sawangkarn criticised the Senate’s proposed committee to review the bill, suggesting it may be used to justify the legislation rather than properly assess it.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra defended the initiative, insisting that casinos would be limited to ten percent of the planned entertainment complexes and that the bill’s opponents were misrepresenting its scope. She stated that the Government would continue to communicate with the public to address concerns.
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