Anti-gambling groups set up a stage at Chamai Maruchet Bridge near Government House to protest against the government's Entertainment Complex Bill, which includes legalized casinos, on March 21. Former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan called for support for the protest, and the bill was due to be reviewed by the cabinet on the Tuesday after the demonstration1.
Jatuporn said he had invited protesters to gather near Government House to oppose the Entertainment Complex Bill, which he said would permit the development of casinos and legalize online gambling1. He predicted the government would push the measure through and urged people to oppose online gambling1.
He said the policy was not included in the Pheu Thai Party's election manifesto, and asked the coalition government parties, especially Pheu Thai, to be mindful in decision making and to stop the damage the bill might cause the country1. He also criticized the Prime Minister's Office, the Secretariat of the Prime Minister, for saying on Friday that the bill was an urgent matter that needed to be brought to the cabinet for consideration as soon as Tuesday1.
Speaking for the other camp, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra posted on X on Saturday that the entertainment complexes would entice investors into backing construction projects in Thailand1. He said the bill emphasizes the importance of investing in high-quality museums and indoor stadiums, as well as public parks for communities, and that entertainment complexes would attract tourists and create jobs1.
What it means for players
Thailand does not currently permit casino gambling for residents or visitors, and the bill would change that if passed. The proposal covers casinos inside larger entertainment complexes, and Jatuporn's account of it also includes legalized online gambling1. The bill had not been approved at the time of the protest and was still headed for cabinet review1. The outcome for locals, expats and visitors depends on what the cabinet and parliament do next, and no licensing rules, entry conditions or opening dates have been reported. For the current legal position, see Can I Gamble in Thailand? and Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions. Rules on whether Thai citizens would be allowed inside any future casinos have not been reported; for how other Asian jurisdictions handle that question, see Which Asian Casinos Bar Local Citizens?.
What happens next
The cabinet was expected to review the Entertainment Complex Bill on the Tuesday after the March 2 protest1. No further dates have been reported.
