Thai Deputy PM Defends Casino Bill Amid US Tariff Pressure, Opposition Intensifies Ahead of Parliamentary Debate

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has come out strongly in support of the controversial Entertainment Complex bill, presenting it as a vital economic countermeasure in light of the recent spike in US tariffs on Thai exports. With the bill slated for parliamentary debate on April 9th, tensions are mounting between government supporters and opposition figures as Thailand grapples with mounting trade pressures.

As reported by the Bangkok Post, Phumtham underscored the bill’s primary aim of boosting national revenue through the establishment of integrated entertainment hubs, which would include casinos. These projects, he argued, are intended to help counterbalance the sharp 36 percent increase in US tariffs—more than three times Singapore’s 10 percent rate.

“This isn’t about encouraging gambling—it’s about economic survival,” he stated, emphasizing that the initiative is not designed to promote gambling culture but rather to fortify the country’s financial resilience during a challenging period.

Phumtham pointed to data from a recent government-led public consultation, held from February 28th to March 14th, which saw over 70,000 participants. According to him, roughly 80 percent expressed support for the bill. He acknowledged the concerns voiced by critics but insisted that the issue should be settled through legislative debate rather than public demonstrations. “Opposition voices are important,” he said, “but the bill’s fate should be determined through democratic processes in parliament rather than street protests.”

Supporters of the bill argue that entertainment complexes with casino components could inject billions of baht into the Thai economy, potentially offsetting losses stemming from the US trade actions. They have also promised stringent entry regulations to address social concerns, including limits based on age and income, in a bid to curb gambling addiction.

Meanwhile, the Senate is preparing to weigh in on the proposed legislation. Senate spokesman Pisit Apiwattanapong revealed that the upper house intends to form a committee to assess the full scope and impact of the casino complexes once the House of Representatives completes its deliberation. Pisit noted that while opinions among senators are split, the majority lean toward opposition, with some pushing for a public referendum before any action is taken.

Opposition to the bill continues to grow, both inside and outside the halls of parliament. Thanakorn Kromkrit, secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, formally submitted a petition against the bill to House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut. Thanakorn condemned the legislation as “irresponsible,” stressing that casino development was never part of any political campaign and lacks a comprehensive policy foundation.

People’s Party leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut echoed those concerns, urging the government to seriously engage with public sentiment. He warned that the proposed law might fail to address the economic challenges it targets and could disproportionately benefit a small number of vested interests.

Further criticism came from former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, who urged citizens to gather outside parliament in protest. Jatuporn blasted the government for moving ahead with the casino bill at a time when efforts to recover from a recent earthquake remain ongoing.

Adding to the wave of opposition, Chittawan Chanagul from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Economics announced intentions to file a petition calling for an ethics investigation into Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over her administration’s handling of the bill.

Uncertainty also surrounded the parliamentary calendar, as speculation grew that the debate might be rescheduled to Thursday. However, Chief Government Whip Wisut Chainarun addressed the rumors, clarifying that Thursday’s session will focus exclusively on earthquake recovery efforts, while the casino bill will remain on the original April 9th agenda.

By fLEXI tEAM