Thousands of Thais Sign Petition for Referendum on Casino Bill
Civic groups in Thailand have joined forces to petition the government, calling for a national referendum on the contentious casino bill.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The petition, which has been signed by nearly 54,000 Thai residents, demands that lawmakers put the Entertainment Complex Act to a public vote. The development comes amid an ongoing heated debate over the proposed casino resorts.
The petition was delivered to the Thailand Election Commission last Thursday by more than 100 representatives from an anti-casino network.
According to Kornkanok Makboon, petition coordinator, the anti-casino network started collecting signatures in early January, surpassing the required 50,000 signatures in May.
A Bill with Big Promises
In January, the Thai Cabinet approved the draft casino bill. The legislation, if enacted, will see the development of up to five integrated resorts with casinos in the country.
The government sees the plan as a way to boost tourism and economic growth. Supporters estimate that the casino industry will bring in a projected $3.5 billion to $7 billion annual boost in tourism revenue, with the five proposed entertainment complexes attracting new investments totaling over $2.9 billion each.
Additionally, the sector is predicted to increase tourist arrivals by 5% to 10%, with each visitor spending between $1,296 and $1,945.
This growth is expected to create 9,000 to 15,300 new jobs. Furthermore, the government anticipates collecting up to $1.1 billion in tax revenue yearly.
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Opponents Raise Concerns over Social Impact
However, anti-casino stakeholders are not sold on the idea and instead highlight the potential risks of physical casinos in the jurisdiction.
Wasinee Sonsaeb, representing the Youth Network Against Gambling, warns that legal casinos may make gambling more appealing and accessible to young people.
She countered the argument that Thailand should follow Singapore's lead without a referendum, pointing out that Singapore spent 10 years conducting extensive research and public consultations before legalizing casinos.
Thanakorn Khomkrit, Secretary-General of the Stop Gambling Foundation in Thailand, noted that a referendum, irrespective of the outcome, would show the government what the people really want.
According to him, if most Thais vote in favor of casino resorts, it would lead to less public pushback and boost investor confidence in the project.
The petition's next step is for the Electoral Commission to verify the signatures within 30 days and then forward it to the Cabinet Secretariat.
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