According to Bloomberg, the casino bill has been delayed in Thailand amid public discontent. Earlier, protests were held outside the parliament building in opposition to the bill and the legalization of casinos in the country.
However, Prime Minister Patongtarn Shinawatra assured stakeholders and the media that the bill will not be withdrawn at this time, and the government is focused on more important issues, including recovery from the recent earthquake in the country.
The impact of Trump’s tariffs has also been a focus for the government as they continue to wreak havoc on global markets.
Shinawatra reportedly stressed that communications will be strengthened and consistent in an attempt to ensure that citizens understand the bill better.
A key amendment in the bill that has caused controversy was the exclusion of Thai citizens from event venues. It was intended that the barriers for Thai residents would be lifted in an attempt to stop any potential black market. However, the government decided to make a sharp U-turn on this decision at the last minute.
As a result, citizens will need to meet a 50 million baht deposit requirement and a 5,000 baht entry fee to enter a casino. For a while, it seemed like the legislation was heading in the other direction, especially after public consultations supported legalizing casinos but not significant restrictions on Thai residents.
However, Shinawatra stressed that the new framework has not yet been finalized and changes are possible.
Ensuring that casinos are entertainment venues was a prominent focus of the bill, leading to a 10% cap on the floor space used for gambling, a provision that was included in the approved bill.
This element of the legislation was raised during the public consultations. Many respondents felt that it should be changed to allow more floor space to be used for gambling.
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