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Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra Backs Casino Legalization in Thailand

September 3, 2024 Thailand Industry Updates

Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s former Prime Minister and father of the current Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has voiced strong support for legalizing casinos in Thailand. This position was revealed during the recent “Vision for Thailand” event organized by Nation Group.

Thaksin Shinawatra, who is also a member of the current Prime Minister’s party, outlined his support as part of his broader vision for addressing Thailand’s economic challenges. Gambling Insider cited Thai reports that said the ex-Prime Minister highlighted two main points:

1. Legalizing the Underground Economy: Thaksin noted that Thailand’s underground economy is estimated to represent about 50% of the official economy. He suggested that legalizing activities such as online gambling could significantly boost the GDP, given that Thais currently lose around THB 170 billion ($4.99 billion) annually to illegal gambling.

2. Entertainment Complexes: Thaksin proposed investing hundreds of billions of baht in entertainment complexes, which could include casinos. He emphasized that casinos would occupy no more than 10% of the area in these complexes.

This endorsement of casino legalization comes at a pivotal time. The previous Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, was a strong advocate of the casino bill aimed at legalizing casinos and gambling in Thailand. His dismissal on August 15, 2024 raised questions about the future of the bill.

With the election of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the new Prime Minister, there was uncertainty about the fate of the casino bill due to opposition from some supporters, including Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul of the Bhumjaithai Party.

Despite these concerns, Thaksin’s support is seen as reassuring for stakeholders and investors, especially as interest in Thailand grows. Notably, four of Macau’s major casino operators have shown interest in Thailand following the drafting of the casino bill.