Pheu Thai MPs to promote casino, amnesty push

Thailand’s political stage is heating up as the Pheu Thai Party, under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, doubles down on its controversial push to legalise casino gambling.

With Parliament on recess, Pheu Thai MPs have been dispatched to their constituencies, not for a holiday, but to drum up support for two of the most divisive bills in recent memory: the casino-entertainment complex and a political amnesty bill.

This isn’t a quiet, backroom maneuver. The party’s strategy is out in the open—cabinet ministers and MPs are tasked with listening to public concerns and convincing sceptical voters that legal casinos could be an economic boon.

The government’s message is clear: more jobs, more tourism, and a share of the global gaming market. But the reality is far messier.

The casino bill, initially slated for debate in the last parliamentary session, was abruptly postponed to July after fierce resistance from within the coalition itself.

The Bhumjaithai Party, Pheu Thai’s key partner, has split its secretary-general has publicly opposed the bill, though party leader Anutin Charnvirakul insists the party line hasn’t changed. Meanwhile, critics accuse the government of trying to fast-track the legislation without proper study, warning of potential ethical pitfalls and a backlash that could cost Pheu Thai dearly at the next election.

Protests have already erupted, with activists and even religious organisations decrying the moral risks of legal gambling. Some observers argue that only a national referendum can settle the issue.

For now, Pheu Thai is betting it can sway public opinion before Parliament reconvenes. Whether this high-stakes gamble pays off or backfires spectacularly is anyone’s guess—but Thailand’s political drama is only just beginning.