Further discussions are being had around the development of Thailand’s gambling market, as friction around the integrated resorts bill increases.
Amidst political reluctance from opposition corners over the progress of the integrated resorts bill, four major international players are reportedly throwing their weight behind the Thailand market.
The Bangkok Post reported that Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts have both held productive discussions with the Thai government over the infrastructure and investment in the market.
Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts, has previously cited Thailand as a key target for Wynn’s investment if the land-based casino market is established in the country.
Discussions will be viewed as vital as the progression and evolution of the framework takes shape in the coming months and years.
The news comes as there were calls from the special committee tasked with debating the future of the bill for a referendum on casino regulation.
In what would be a major stumbling block for the bill, the committee even stated that bypassing a referendum would be in breach of the constitution.
The committee is undertaking a 180-day study of the Thai Government’s plans to implement an Entertainment Complex Bill, establishing regulated land-based casinos in the country.
At the centre of discussion for the first subcommittee is examining possible adverse effects of the entertainment complex and casino project on society, legal proceedings, the environment, urban planning, the constitution, national development strategies, and the process of conducting a public referendum.
Furthermore, the extent of the second research detailed by the committee could see it examine the potential of online gambling – a vertical which currently remains illegal in Thailand.
This comes as there have been murmurings of the legalisation of iGaming for the Thai market, largely fuelled by the efforts of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her father, the former Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Concluding the process, with a potential view to progressing the bill, the subcommittees are expected to report their findings before the end of July, a date that will coincide with the expected date for the bill to be presented to the Thai parliament at the beginning of July.
