Critics fear a rise in crime and addiction, questioning the economic benefits of the initiative.
The Thai parliament continues to debate a bill to legalize casinos, which has sparked heated discussions in society and political circles. Parit Wachirasindhu, a member of parliament from the opposition People’s Party, has sharply criticized the government’s initiative, citing its serious shortcomings and potential negative consequences.
According to Wachirasindhu, who posted on his Facebook page after participating in a discussion organized by Inside Asian Gaming (a Macau-based media outlet), the government’s arguments about the economic benefits of legalizing casinos appear unfounded and insufficiently thought out. He claims that they are based on assumptions rather than real data and ignore future trends in tourism, including China’s possible reaction to its citizens traveling to countries with legalized casinos.
The MP expressed concern about the lack of reliable measures to protect society from the negative consequences associated with casino activities, such as corruption, crime, money laundering, and gambling addiction. Wachirasindhu also noted the inconsistency and lack of clarity in the communication of government policy, which, in his opinion, undermines public confidence.
During the discussion, the opinions of representatives of the private sector were also touched upon. According to their estimates, the government could receive up to 50 billion Thai baht per year in tax revenue from casinos, provided there is a significant number of Thai visitors.
However, as Wachirasindhu pointed out, these forecasts are based on the assumption that 80% of casino players will be Thai, making a total of 21 million gaming sessions per year. For this to happen, more than half of Thais over the age of 20 living in provinces with casinos would need to visit them up to three times a year.
The MP’s criticism also focuses on the government’s proposal that Thai citizens with bank deposits of at least 50 million baht over the past six months will be allowed to gamble at casinos. Vachirasindhu points out that the number of people who meet this criterion does not exceed 10,000, which calls into question the achievement of the stated economic goals.
Private sector representatives also note that the deposit requirement itself could be an obstacle to achieving economic goals. According to Wachirasindhu, the government deliberately included the 50 million baht deposit clause in the bill to appease public discontent, but its true goal is to allow more Thais to visit gambling establishments.
MP Wachirasingh calls for the development of a policy that balances attracting investment, creating healthy competition, and ensuring benefits for Thai citizens. Further discussion of the bill in parliament promises to be tense, given the wide range of opinions and concerns expressed by the public and politicians.
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