House casinos bill gets early debate

Wisut Chainarun, chief government whip, said Parliament would probably take up the entertainment complex bill no later than April 9.

Mr Wisut, also a Pheu Thai list-MP, said the bill was approved by the cabinet on March 27, but parliament has yet to get clear information on when it will be submitted.

If it doesn’t come in time to be reviewed by April 3, it will probably be taken up April 9, he says.

He said the bill would be given sufficient time in the House. It is expected that the Coalition MPs will approve the bill, and talks with the opposition on this issue have not been conducted,” he said.

Meanwhile, tourism operators in Phuket supported the bill, claiming it may boost economic growth.

But an entertainment venue without a casino on the premises would be a magnet for family-oriented tourists, according to Thanet Tantipiriyakit, president of the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA).

Other types of projects could also drive quality tourists to visit and spend more time in Phuket, said Mr Thanet, such as a world-class water park, a sports complex of international standards, a cultural and arts centre or a theme park.

Tourists now spend 5–8 days in Phuket, and are mainly attracted by its white sandy beaches, he said, while a well-designed entertainment complex could encourage them to stay longer.

He also noted that many of the tourists who come to gamble have limited effects on the local economy, since they mostly spend money on casino property.

The entertainment complex bill was designed to propel the economy by reducing reliance on seasonal tourism, the government says.

Under the current iteration of the bill, the complexes will primarily consist of concert halls, indoor sports arenas, and water parks and/or hotels, with casinos comprising only 10% of the space.

The project is projected to generate 119–283 billion baht a year and boost the number of foreign travellers in Thailand by 5–10%.

But political activist Jatuporn Prompan said at a protest in front of Government House on Saturday that legalizing gambling will lead to social trouble like crime and family troubles.

He stated that on April 1, he had a monk invited to hold a sermon for cabinet to listen to, regarding the adverse impacts of gambling.