Thai Senate launches review of controversial casino bill amid political jostling

A special Senate committee has been tasked with overseeing a controversial casino bill in Thailand.

It is set to hold its first meeting on April 23, in what will become a six-month review of the government’s divisive Entertainment Complex Bill.

Initially proposed by Senator Sorachat Wichaya Suwanphrom, the move also reflects the public mood following the recent protests held outside Thailand’s parliament building in Bangkok.

The new committee is set to be formed by 35 Senate members, however, that number currently sits at 34 following the recent resignation of Senator Premsak Piayura.

Expected to take 180 days, the study will also incorporate the opinions of 12 additional external experts. However, concerns over possible political interference have already clouded the process.

Media reports suggest lobbying is already underway to appoint a chairperson with political ties from Buri Ram – a city municipality.

These rumors have raised alarm bells largely because the Bhumjaithai Party has a stronghold in the region as well as a perceived influence over some of the Senate’s 200 members.

As a result, observers fear that the review could be used as a political tool amid the simmering tension between the ruling Pheu Thai Party and Bhumjaithai. While both parties are intertwined in the current government coalition, further cracks have begun to emerge over their differing views on the Pheu Thai-led casino initiative.

Members from Pheu Thai, including Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, have publicly emphasized that the bill is not just about legalizing gambling, with Secretary-General Sorawong Thienthong stating: “This is a special [project] to draw investors and generate revenue.”

Pheu Thai MP Anusorn Iamsa-ard also echoed this sentiment, warning critics and media outlets not to “distort information about the entertainment complex project.”

He followed up by insisting that the initiative aims to boost economic development while also dismissing fears that it will become a money-laundering hub for criminals.

During the upcoming House recess, Pheu Thai MPs are also planning to meet with their constituents to explain the project’s true objectives and benefits. In doing so, Anusorn expressed confidence that with a better understanding of the project, the public would begin to help drive it forward.

Meanwhile, Thai legal experts indicate that the bill’s first reading might not happen until July at the earliest, with licensing or bidding for the project possibly taking until 2027. Despite the slow timeline, all eyes will now be focused on who the Senate appoints as its panel chairperson and the conclusions it draws after its three-month review.