Cabinet Set to Review Casino-Entertainment Complex Feedback

[webfact]

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The Cabinet is poised to review feedback from a recent public hearing regarding a proposed bill to establish casino-entertainment complexes in Thailand. This initiative, spearheaded by the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), aims to regulate casinos and foster tourism-related revenue.

 

The bill suggests issuing 30-year licences to operators of these complexes, contingent on a 5 billion baht registration fee and an annual fee of 1 billion baht. The complexes, envisioned to bolster tourism, will be open to all foreigners, while Thai citizens must pay an entrance fee of 5,000 baht. Furthermore, visitors under the age of 20 will be denied entry.

 

An entertainment complex policy committee, headed by the prime minister, will dictate the guidelines for these complexes. Prospective operators must be limited or public limited companies registered in Thailand with a minimum of 10 billion baht in registered capital.

During the online hearing, held between 2nd and 18th August, citizens proposed several amendments to the bill. Many called for the bill’s name to be changed to the "integrated resort bill" to reflect a more amenable image.

 

Suggestions also included altering the licence duration, with some urging a reduction to 10 years and others recommending an extension to 50-60 years.

 

There were calls for a reduced entrance fee for Thai citizens, ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 baht, and the proposed implementation of a nationwide fee for 10 years.

 

Concerns were raised about potential money laundering, crime, and social issues associated with legalised gambling. As a solution, participants proposed forming a fund to compensate for any negative impacts, reported Bangkok Post.

 

The Cabinet’s review could reshape the future of entertainment complexes in Thailand, seeking a balance between economic benefits and social responsibility.

 

-- 2024-10-17

 

 

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Cabinet Set to Review Casino-Entertainment Complex Feedback

"Kickback" more relevant than "Feedback"

[Dionigi]

does a fund to compensate negative impacts include giving the money back to those who lose it all.

[newnative]

     Back in August the Finance Ministry was predicting that 90% of the gamblers in the casinos would be local Thai gamblers.   I thought that was claptrap when I read it and even more so now, when it is proposed that Thais pay a 5,000 baht entrance fee, while foreigners get in free.  There's some dual pricing for ya.   

     With the steep fee to secure a casino license, plus the steep annual fee, and the added costs to make the casino complexes also entertainment complexes, as well, I think they are going to need more than 10% of the customers to be foreign, especially if the aim, per the article, is to have these complexes 'bolster tourism'.  

[Purdey]

If the majority of the feedback is negative, how will the government push it through anyhow?