Thailand's government has given the Council of State 50 days to finish reviewing the entertainment complex bill before it goes to the House for deliberation, and the deputy prime minister said on 21 January 2025 that the draft law needs no referendum because parliament has already approved the policy1.
Pakorn Nilprapunt, secretary-general of the Council of State, said the government has emphasized that the bill be treated as urgent, with a 50-day maximum review period agreed in principle by the cabinet1. Asked whether a referendum would be held to gauge public opinion, he said that decision belongs to the government and the council has no authority to push for one1.
Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai dismissed calls for a referendum, saying any delay to the bill could cost the economy, and that the entertainment complexes are an important part of the government's economic stimulus1. He spoke after chairing the weekly cabinet meeting in the absence of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was attending the World Economic Forum in Switzerland1.
"Since the entertainment complex is a policy that the government has already declared and won approval for in parliament, there is no need to carry out a referendum"
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been promoting entertainment complexes at campaign appearances and, in response to critics of legalized gambling, has stressed that the casino component of each complex would be 10% or less1.
Parit Wacharasindhu, a spokesman for the opposition People's Party, said the public needs to study the bill's details and watch for hidden elements1. He said the party has no problem with legalizing underground businesses to bring them under better control, but wants clarity on how casino revenue would be handled, how much would go to central government and whether local administration organizations in the same areas would receive a share1. He also said the public needs to know how the government plans to deal with the possible negative impacts of legalizing casinos and how it will ensure license bidding is transparent and fair1.
What it means for players
Thailand has no legal casino gambling at present, and the bill would create entertainment complexes that include a casino component. The 50-day review is a procedural step, not a license or an opening date, and no venue, operator or launch date has been reported1. The deputy prime minister's position that no referendum is needed means the bill's path runs through the House rather than a public vote, though the Council of State has said it cannot force a referendum either way1. For anyone in Thailand, the practical situation is unchanged for now: the bill is still a draft, and the rules that apply to gambling in the country remain those currently in force. See the Thailand guide and the gambling law overview for the current position.
What happens next
The Council of State has up to 50 days to complete its review, after which the bill is to be forwarded to the House for deliberation1. The cabinet agreed the urgent treatment in principle1. No date has been reported for the House stage, and no date has been reported for any referendum, which the deputy prime minister said is unnecessary1.
Sources1 sources
- Bangkok Post - ‘No need’ for casino referendum, says deputy PM, bangkokpost.com
