Opinion Nearly Half of Thais Say Casinos Crucial to Entertainment Bill’s Survival

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Tsogo Sun

 

In a revealing result from a recent Nida Poll, it appears that the controversial Entertainment Complex Bill in Thailand is widely seen as dependent on its casino component.

 

The survey, conducted from April 21-23, showed that 46% of participants believed that without the casino element, the bill would likely face rejection. Still, there's division, as 33% felt that the bill might pass even without the casinos.

 

Interestingly, 19% of those surveyed insisted it would be impossible to remove the casino aspect altogether, highlighting the contentious nature of the proposal. Meanwhile, a small 2% expressed disinterest in the topic.

 

The poll gathered input from 1,310 individuals aged 18 and over, from diverse educational, occupational, and income backgrounds across the country. It was conducted after the government pulled back efforts to advance the bill through parliament due to opposition.

 

The debate heated further when Bhumjaithai Party's secretary-general, Chaichanok Chidchob, unexpectedly opposed casinos in a House meeting, despite prior government efforts to delay the bill's discussion.

 

The poll found that 35.8% backed Mr Chaichanok’s stance, while 28% saw it as a personal viewpoint. About 22% believed he was aligning with public opinion to potentially reinforce his party’s official stand.

 

 

 

Around 29% viewed his antics as a political manoeuvre for the Bhumjaithai Party to gain negotiation leverage. On the other hand, 20% of participants thought the ruling Pheu Thai Party might eventually succeed in lobbying for the casino-entertainment complexes.

 

Conversely, about 17% doubted the likelihood of these venues coming to fruition.

 

Mr Chaichanok's opposition seems to have also triggered concerns over political alignments. Approximately 9% of those surveyed interpreted the stance as a signal that Bhumjaithai might sever ties with the present political coalition.

 

Moreover, 10.84% hinted at a growing internal discord within Bhumjaithai. Only a smaller portion—about 7%—predicts the party could be expelled from the government, while 6% think the party made an ill-judged decision.

 

In summary, the fate of Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill appears intricately tied to the inclusion of casinos, according to public opinion. The issue remains a hotbed of political intrigue and manoeuvrings, making the government's next steps highly anticipated.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-04-28

 

 

[smedly]

tells absolutely nothing

 

casinos in Thailand is a huge mistake, it only suits the greedy and corrupt 

[quake]

Go there Thailand.

Welcome to the 21st century. 

[Tomtomtom69]

Thailand doesn't need casinos. Get rid of this stupid idea. 

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

tells absolutely nothing

 

casinos in Thailand is a huge mistake, it only suits the greedy and corrupt 

Which is why it will pass eventually

[SABloke]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the Entertainment Complex Bill (popularly dubbed the "Casino Bill") without casinos? What else is in this bill then??

[newnative]

Duh.

[Chris Daley]

Quick trip to the temple, a few sticks of muu ping and then off to the casino.

[thailand49]

Survey yes right!🤣