Thailand: Casino bill faces wave of protests

Opposition to the bill legalizing entertainment complexes and casinos is growing in Thailand.

Doctors, academics and schools are now joining protests against the legalization of casinos.

The bill is scheduled to be debated in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, April 9.

The view of doctors at Chulalongkorn University

On Saturday, a group of 37 doctors from Chulalongkorn University took a stand against the bill.

They stressed that Thailand still faces a system of favoritism, lax law enforcement, and deep-rooted corruption.

In this context, the proposed change seems risky.

They warn that legalizing online casinos and gambling could exacerbate existing social problems, including increasing crime, drug problems, human trafficking, money laundering, and other illegal activities.

They also believe that the economy will not improve as some claim, and that this initiative would actually be a disaster for the country.

The group called on the government to withdraw the bill in the interest of social stability.

The opposition of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences

Recently, members of the Royal Society of Thailand's Academy of Moral and Political Sciences expressed their concerns.

At a meeting, they supported a study conducted by one of their members, Woradej Chantharasorn, which recommended canceling or postponing the bill.

If the government insists on moving forward with the project, the Academy recommended implementing additional measures to address the social and crime problems that could arise from legalizing casinos.

Thailand's Catholic Education Council opposes casinos

The Catholic Education Council of Thailand also took a strong stance against the bill.

He believes that gambling harms morality and highlights the unity of the country's 387 Catholic schools against the legalization of casinos.

The council urged the government to protect children by abandoning the plan, while seeking solutions to promote a sustainable and equitable economy without relying on gambling revenue.

Call to demonstrate against the bill

Jatuporn Prompan, leader of the People's Unity group, called on people to participate in a demonstration on Wednesday, ahead of the first reading of the bill.

The government has come under heavy criticism for trying to rush through the bill on entertainment complexes and casinos, even though there is no comprehensive feasibility study to support it.

Tensions within Parliament

At a parliamentary meeting on Thursday, after the Pheu Thai Party proposed moving the debate to Wednesday, the opposition openly expressed concerns about the influence of private investors on government policy.

People's Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut told reporters he had tabled a motion to include the aftermath of the recent earthquake on the agenda of the next parliamentary session.

However, the Pheu Thai Party replaced this proposal with the Entertainment Complexes Bill.

Mr. Natthaphong said the reordering of government priorities was motivated by fears that a prolonged debate on the earthquake response would affect the quorum needed for the session.

This could compromise the vote on the casino bill.

Casino revenues to offset losses from rising US tariffs

Responding to the protests, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said on Saturday that the bill would generate additional revenue for Thailand, which could offset losses from increased US tariffs.

See: Thailand hit hard by Trump: Stock market collapses

Phumtham urged protest groups opposing the casino project to use parliamentary channels to resolve their differences with the government, while accepting that it is their right to protest.

He said the protest groups do not represent the Thai people as a whole.

Defending the casinos, which the government says will only account for 10 percent of the proposed resorts' "business," Phumtham said there will be restrictions on who can enter the casino, such as age limits and financial criteria.

See also:

Thailand: Government approves casino bill

Thailand's casino legalization plan threatens Chinese tourism

Thailand: Majority of citizens against legalizing casinos

Source: Bangkok Post