According to a recent consultation conducted by the Finance Ministry of Thailand, the country’s plan to legalize casinos as part of large-scale entertainment complexes has received strong public support.
More specifically, nearly 80% of respondents backed the initiative and approved of the government’s plan to open casinos as part of entertainment complexes and resorts.
The public hearing, which took place from February 28 to March 14, included more than 70,000 participants, with the majority of them feeling that opening legal casinos will help battle illegal gambling activities, attract tourism and investment, and generate tax revenue.
Additionally, the correspondents of the survey requested that local residents have easier access to these establishments, something that the government is yet to address.
Regardless of the strong public support, the plan has faced opposition from various groups, including academics and anti-gambling advocates.
According to the critics, by enforcing this plan, the government increases gambling addiction and positions corporations to be the primary beneficiaries rather than the general public.
In addition, the opponents also raised concerns regarding the government pushing this initiative without extensive research, something that may contribute to issues such as the number of casinos that would be permitted, the expected tax revenue, and Thailand’s ability to compete with established casino hubs like the Philippines and Singapore.
At the moment of writing, the proposal is under discussion in the parliament of Thailand (March 24–25), where opponents of the plan have drawn comparisons to the challenges faced by other countries with similar initiatives.
One of the best examples that emphasizes the risks of money laundering is Macau, especially since the Philippines has struggled with crime-related issues related to its gaming industry.
On the other hand, those in favor of the initiative highlight the economic benefits in other countries with casino hubs.
Additionally, the proponents of the plan underlined the resorts of Singapore as an example, stating that the country has successfully attracted investment, created jobs, and boosted tourism.
As the debate over whether casinos should be legalized continues to intensify, all we can do is wait to see whether the country of Thailand will move forward with this development.
