Key points:
- 46% believe the bill would fail without the casino element
- 35.8% support Chaichanok Chidchob’s opposition to casino legalisation
- Concerns rise over potential divisions within the ruling coalition
Nearly half of respondents in Thailand believe the Entertainment Complex Bill would not pass through parliament if the casino element were removed, according to the latest Nida Poll, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
The survey, conducted from 21 to 23 April, gathered opinions from 1,310 individuals aged 18 and above across different backgrounds. It followed the government's decision to postpone the bill's parliamentary debate after strong public opposition.
The results indicated that 46% thought the bill would fail without the casino component, while 33% believed it could still be passed. A further 19% said removing the casino was not feasible, and 2% expressed no opinion.
The debate intensified when Bhumjaithai Party secretary-general Chaichanok Chidchob publicly opposed casino legalisation during a House session. His stance was supported by 35.8% of participants, 28% viewed it as a personal opinion, and 22% believed he reflected public sentiment but would eventually align with his party.
About 29% of those surveyed interpreted his remarks as a political strategy to strengthen Bhumjaithai’s position within the coalition. Meanwhile, 20% believed the ruling Pheu Thai Party would still be able to push the bill forward, though 17% considered it unlikely to succeed.
Concerns about coalition stability emerged, with 9% suggesting Bhumjaithai could leave the alliance and 10.84% sensing growing internal rifts. A smaller proportion believed the party might be removed from government or had made a political misstep by opposing the measure.
