After Anutin Charnvirakul assumed the post of Prime Minister of Thailand, the prospects for passing the bill on the creation of integrated resorts came into doubt.
In an interview with local media, he made it clear that moving forward with this project is not part of his agenda.
He stated: “If someone says gambling can stimulate the economy, I’d say wait for another prime minister.
“Don’t wait for me, as I don’t agree with this approach. While I was interior minister, I also said poker shouldn’t be allowed. But once I left, they went ahead with it. We must bring righteousness and justice back to our nation.”
At the same time, he noted that his government intends to reconsider the issue of poker and does not rule out the possibility of recognizing it as a sport.
The possibility of reclassifying poker had been mentioned before. At a press conference last month, Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said: “There are still legal obstacles that must be reviewed. If poker is to be classified as a sport, we need strict oversight. What is appropriate should be allowed, and what isn’t must be clearly prohibited.”
Shinawatra had previously promoted a bill aimed at stimulating the economy through integrated resorts with casinos designed to attract foreign tourists.
However, her initiative was abruptly halted by a Constitutional Court ruling that removed her from office.
Nevertheless, there were statements suggesting the bill could be revived. Deputy Minister Julapun Amornvivat stressed that “the government will return to the bill when conditions become more favorable.”
In July, the draft bill was officially withdrawn amid a political crisis sparked by the leak of a phone conversation between Shinawatra and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, which coincided with rising tensions along the border.
Following the scandal, Shinawatra was temporarily suspended, mass protests erupted demanding her resignation, and the Bhumjaithai Party withdrew from her coalition, stripping her of a parliamentary majority.
The Constitutional Court then voted six to three against Shinawatra, ruling that her actions violated the ethical standards expected of her office.
This stands in sharp contrast to Japan, where casino legislation continues to advance, raising concerns in South Korea about the competitiveness of its own market.
MGM Osaka is scheduled to open in 2030. Meanwhile, representatives of South Korea’s gambling industry have warned that the country’s current regulations put national casinos and tourism at a disadvantage.
“The integrated resort in Osaka is geographically close and poses a serious competitive challenge for our industry,” said Choi Chul-kyu, acting CEO of Kangwon Land, the only casino in South Korea open to its citizens.
He was speaking at a conference in Osaka organized by the Korea Casino Integrated Resort Association and the Korea Tourism Society, where officials and experts discussed the potential impact of Japan’s new project.
According to estimates, after the resort’s launch, about 7.6 million South Koreans may visit Osaka annually, spending roughly 2.6trn won (£1.4bn/$1.75bn).
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