House of Representatives Votes to Explore Possibility of Casino-Entertainment Zone in Thailand

The House of Representatives has voted in favour of a special committee’s report in exploring the opportunity of setting up a casino-entertainment zone in Thailand. After a three-hour meeting, the report was passed with 310 votes for, and nine votes against.

The report, which was prepared by the special committee set up in December 2021, states that Bangkok, with the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and areas within a 100-kilometre radius of Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao airports, would be ideal hosts for a casino complex. Amenities such as five-star hotels, shopping malls, beauty and spa parlours, amusement parks, zoos, indoor and outdoor sports stadiums, as well as the casinos themselves, have been included in the proposal.

Sanhapot Suksrimuang, a committee member from the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), said the study took 240 days and its report was comprehensive. Pakornwut Udompipatsakul, another committee member from the Move Forward Party (MFP), added that it must be stressed the report was not tantamount to a call for the setting up of casinos.

The MPs spent about two and a half hours making observations and suggestions before endorsing the report, which will be submitted to the government for further consideration. The eight types of gambling activities allowed by the report include online casinos, betting on the stock exchange index and foreign exchange rates, and betting on the results of international and local sporting events.