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Thai Senate Sends Casino Plan Packing, Cites High Risks

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File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Thailand's Senate has decisively rejected the bill to create integrated entertainment complexes with casinos, citing severe concerns about societal impact, economic disruption, and national security threats. This bill, backed by the administration of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, was scrutinised by a special Senate committee, resulting in a damning report that warned of increased money laundering risks and the potential erosion of public trust.

 

Deputy Senate President Gen. Kriengkrai Srirak presented the evaluation, which urged that any future casino legalisation efforts require public input via a national referendum. Senator Sornchat Vichaya Suwannaprom proposed forming a new study group to explore alternative models, such as complexes without casinos or tightly regulated casino zones, using international examples like Sydney's tourist-only casino access as a potential template.

 

Criticism intensified with Senator Chinachot Saengsang labelling the bill as deceptive, arguing that casinos are central to its intent. He warned that legalising casinos could damage public trust and governance. The Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party-led government has yet to outline its policy statement in parliament, raising further questions about the direction of future gambling laws.

 

Senator Sitthikorn Thongyos raised alarms over gambling normalisation via recent government initiatives, like poker reclassification and retirement lotteries. He argued that this could lead to full-scale casino legalisation, urging the incoming government's withdrawal of the bill. Dr Veerapun Suvannamai noted that, with Parliament set to dissolve in four months, transparency over any casino legalisation plans should be paramount during campaigns.

 

Dr. Veerapun's group also opposed the bill, which the Senate committee rejected, highlighting its serious constitutional, economic, and social implications. They concluded that the purported economic benefits would be minimal due to high infrastructure costs and potential financial loss transfer from the public to private entities.

 

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Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

Key Takeaways

 

  • The Senate rejected the casino bill due to high social and economic concerns.
  • A call for a national referendum on future casino legalisation was made.
  • The bill faced strong criticism, highlighting potential governance risks.


Related Stories:

 

Thailand's Casino Bill Faces Collapse Amid Public Outcry

Thailand Chooses Cities for Future Casino Complexes
 

 

image.png  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-09-24

 

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  • Popular Post

Now watch the Cambodia 'problem' literally disappear overnight.

 

It was never about borders, they were scared witless that Thailand would build the next Macao and destroy the economy - this is just my personal opinion about revenue sources in Cambodia - it's the Chinese - and they would go to Thailand over Cambodia any day - simply due to the sheer number of flights / convenience of flying into Bangkok.

You'll probably all downvote this but I don't care - this is THE issue.

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2 hours ago, webfact said:

They concluded that the purported economic benefits would be minimal due to high infrastructure costs and potential financial loss transfer from the public to private entities.

Infrastructure - borne by the developer/operator ? Surely jobs created in the construction and operation of the casino complexes ?

 

“Financial loss transfer” - couldn’t all economic activity be categorized as such ?

 

What I really suspect is that there is a major discussion between the power-brokers as to who will get what piece of the highly lucrative pie. Until that is sorted out, no progress will be made. 

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What ever game is being played, unlikely the welfare of Thailand is even a consideration. 

I wonder just how much money has been wasted going through this charade, and more pointedly, where did all the money go?

On 9/24/2025 at 7:39 AM, webfact said:

using international examples like Sydney's tourist-only casino access as a potential template.

He obviously has not been following the fiasco of the Sydney casino.

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Thaksin's casino project now cancelled, as predicted. Now expect the lifting/clarification of restrictions on Anutin's plans for cannabis use.

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At last the senate made a very wise decision. Around the World countries were hell bent on opening casinos. These same countries are now looking for ways to close them down. Don't think I'm anti gambling, I have shares in a few racehorses and have regular bets using my VPN. The down side of casinos is the big time criminal involvement that creeps in.

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Great decision.  The amount of corruption, money laundering, people spending money for rent, to take care of their family is to risky.  Want to gamble plenty of options already.

The biggest risk of the casino plan would be to the developers and the investors when the next administration comes in, and outlaws gambling. Shuttering billions of dollars worth of investment in construction, kind of similar to the massive betrayal the government has engaged in in regard to ganja. Also similar to what happened in Cambodia and turned Sihanoukville into a ghost town. 

 

 

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"increased money laundering risks and the potential erosion of public trust". 

In other words, these activities remain underground for the selected few to shovel money among themselves; no public control, no taxation and hence a lot of money being "spent overseas" in (mostly closed bordered) Cambodia or Northwestern Laos - where erosion of public trust simply does not happen? 

What a farçe! 

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Ask Trump to take over he has a good track record in casino managment 🤣

 

A good decision for the country. Casinos offer nothing but debt, destitution, crime and corruption. 

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On 9/24/2025 at 7:44 AM, ukrules said:

Now watch the Cambodia 'problem' literally disappear overnight.

 

It was never about borders, they were scared witless that Thailand would build the next Macao and destroy the economy - this is just my personal opinion about revenue sources in Cambodia - it's the Chinese - and they would go to Thailand over Cambodia any day - simply due to the sheer number of flights / convenience of flying into Bangkok.

You'll probably all downvote this but I don't care - this is THE issue.

You are absolutely correct but there are so many on this forum that dont see the woods for the trees!! This entire conflict was staged by you know who to get the current government out because they were shutting down scam centers and going to build casinos in Thailand and this didnt suit the "pocket money" beneficiaries on both sides of the border and our northern neighbour who are involved in most of these illegal scams in one way or another!! 

 

 

On 9/24/2025 at 7:39 AM, webfact said:

urged that any future casino legalisation efforts require public input via a national referendum.

 

 

So not quite dead.....but on life support for now?

  • Popular Post
On 9/24/2025 at 7:44 AM, ukrules said:

Now watch the Cambodia 'problem' literally disappear overnight.

 

It was never about borders, they were scared witless that Thailand would build the next Macao and destroy the economy - this is just my personal opinion about revenue sources in Cambodia - it's the Chinese - and they would go to Thailand over Cambodia any day - simply due to the sheer number of flights / convenience of flying into Bangkok.

You'll probably all downvote this but I don't care - this is THE issue.

   I agree.  One thing's for sure, if you look at the excuses given for killing the project they are  vague and overall just exceedingly lame.  

I suggest a 'tightly regulated venue' be trialled by installing a roulette wheel and table in Tony's cell at Khlong Prem Prison. Spinning the wheel would exercise Tony's thinning neck bones and provide rehabilitation for employment after release. Visitors, aka 'punters, would be required to buy 'chips' manufactured in the prison workshops. Cries of "Rien na va plus" could drown out the complaints of parliamentarians and syncopants waiting in line for a visit to 'Takkis Casino'.

On 9/24/2025 at 1:44 AM, ukrules said:

Now watch the Cambodia 'problem' literally disappear overnight.

 

It was never about borders, they were scared witless that Thailand would build the next Macao and destroy the economy - this is just my personal opinion about revenue sources in Cambodia - it's the Chinese - and they would go to Thailand over Cambodia any day - simply due to the sheer number of flights / convenience of flying into Bangkok.

You'll probably all downvote this but I don't care - this is THE issue.

You are 100% correct. Intelligent people already knew the recent problems between the two countries was all down to money and casinos. 🤷🏼

Cina sayd " Sorry Thailand , we got Macau so' no casinos in Thailand " n Thailand agreed . Ciao .

No ,the real reason is Thailand is unique, the government's biggest income is from the lottery, not taxes, if the casinos take off and a lot are up and running, Thais will play the casinos and not the lottery so the government will lose money, more so than the taxes they would get from the casinos. 

And of course, the big players of the underground lottery would not be happy, they would lose out.

14 hours ago, kickstart said:

No ,the real reason is Thailand is unique, the government's biggest income is from the lottery, not taxes, if the casinos take off and a lot are up and running, Thais will play the casinos and not the lottery so the government will lose money, more so than the taxes they would get from the casinos. 

And of course, the big players of the underground lottery would not be happy, they would lose out.

    The lottery plan excluded entrance to Thai citizens, with the exception of wealthy Thais who could meet the financial requirements for entry. 

1 hour ago, newnative said:

    The lottery plan excluded entrance to Thai citizens, with the exception of wealthy Thais who could meet the financial requirements for entry. 

I think you mean the "Casino" plan??

If they want to have a successful Casino in Thailand go and study the Singapore example which has strict controls for locals to engage in gambling, the only hiccup would be Thailands rather blatant practices!. There is much more to the government of the day putting it on hold, the elites are not sure which trough their snouts will be in. Currently the Cambodia / Myanmar entities are filling the pockets of many so do they do not want to rock the boat, also their partners in crime being china is probably against it given it will take revenue from Macao. 

Jeez, I am not a gambler but maye give it a try.

Open one up and see how it goes if terrible, shut it down.

19 minutes ago, paul1804 said:

I think you mean the "Casino" plan??

right, thanks.

Thai Senate Sends Casino Plan Packing, Cites High Risks

 

Good idea.  It doesn't benefit the average Thai person.  It just creates a monopoly on legalized gambling while still making it illegal for old ladies to bet on Mahjong in the privacy of their own homes, and for Thai guys to bet on the village chicken fights. 

Casinos for the rich; the hammer of the Vice Squad for the peasants. 

Yeah - just ditch it all.  Much better.

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