Protests erupt in Bangkok over proposed Thai casino bill

Bangkok saw over 1,200 protesters gather outside of Thailand’s parliament on Wednesday in opposition to the government’s entertainment complex-casino bill. It seeks to capitalise on Asia’s lucrative casino tourism sector.

The draft bill at the heart of the controversy has upset Thai residents after learning of the plan to legalize new casino venues in its recently proposed entertainment complexes.

Leaders of a number of organisations, including the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand (NSPRT) and the Anti-Casino Alliance, not only voiced their opposition to the bill being delayed, but were demanding the government scrap it entirely.

A point that was reaffirmed by Pichit Chaimongkol, leader of NSPRT, who stated: “Our intention is to completely stop the legalisation of casinos, not just to see the bill’s deliberation delayed.”

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra took exception to the protests, choosing to publicly defend the bill, stressing that not only would casinos only occupy 10% of each entertainment complex, but new casinos would not start being introduced nationwide.

In her response to the protests outside, Shinawatra dismissed the uprising as a “political game” designed to misconstrue the truth and spark wider dissent against one of her government’s key flagship policies.

Despite the protest, Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong struck a more optimistic tone, insisting that clearer communications were needed to reduce public objections to the bill.

He believes the protesters do not understand the bill’s intent before insisting the government will work on promoting public awareness during the upcoming parliamentary recess.

Nevertheless, the contentious bill also faces political opposition, as Bhumjaithai Party MP Chaichanok Chidchob publicly declared his own opposition to casino legalization: “I will never, ever support the legalisation of casinos.”

Chidchob added his stance was deeply rooted in his own personal and family values.

The fear among the residents and opposition leaders is the belief that state-approved casinos will ultimately have a negative impact on the nation.

They point to the possibility of increased money laundering and criminality, not to mention the potential uptick in problem gambling among Thai nationals. This is despite lawmakers adopting proposals for tougher entry criteria for residents in the bill.

Beyond the civil unrest and outside of politics, religious leaders are also entering the debate, with Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana directly petitioning the government to reject the casino proposal.

As the debate intensifies, Shinawatra and her Thai government will no doubt continue to face mounting opposition to the entertainment complex-casino bill. Whether the bill is scrapped or is eventually passed into law, the clash between the government’s ambitious economic initiatives and intense public sentiment is surely far from over.