Whilst the political turbulence in Thailand appears to have steadied, any optimism around the country’s gambling bill is diminishing at a rapid rate.
The bill, which once seemed destined to change the fate of gambling legislation across Thailand, was thrown up in the air following the departure of former Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was officially ousted by the country’s Constitutional Court.
Whilst a small glimmer of hope remained, optimism is dwindling at the news this morning that Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, became the country’s 32nd Primer Minister.
He has previously opposed the integrated resorts bill, arguing against the impact it would have on the flow of Chinese tourists into the country.
One of his key policies in opposition also saw him pitch for a referendum around the casino legislation, something that was seen as causing significant friction to the development of the bill.
As Deputy PM for the coalition government, Charnvirakul did however underpin the importance of a National Gambling Commission being formed in the result of legalised gambling.
He emphasised the role this could have in transitioning underground gambling to legitimate platforms.
While it appears unlikely that bringing back the integrated resorts bill will be high on the agenda of Charnvirakul, he may be forced to reconsider to bring relief to Thailand’s economy. a
Judging by his record, clamping down on illegal activity would be the key reason for Charnvirakul to bring back the bill and once again put legislation in place in Thailand.
Previously, Shinawatra championed the economic uptick that would arrive as a result of the bill, which sought to introduce casinos as part of integrated resorts designed to drive economic growth by attracting international tourism.
The tourist hotspots of Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai and Phuket were all chosen as regions to host the new venues, which would have held a maximum of 10% of floor space for gambling activities.
However, the move to regulate the sector was met with disapproval among Thailand’s public and opposition parties.
Data released in July by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) found that 57% of respondents were against entertainment centres and casinos, echoing previous data that recorded the disapproval rate at 59%.
iGaming Expert Analysis: iGaming and integrated resort regulations are very much on ice in Thailand, however there is still hope. Whilst it appears unlikely that Charnvirakul will look to the sector in the immediate future, he hasn’t been entirely dismissive of its potential.
Should black market engagement grow and economic challenges intensify, don’t be surprised if it is something that he eyes in a bid to bring a level of economic levity for the country further into his tenure.
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