Bhumjaithai, a pivotal player in the coalition, reaffirmed its endorsement of Pheu Thai’s ambitious plan to legalize casinos. Despite this support, however, concerns over potential monopolies hogging the lion’s share of the benefits were clearly voiced. Korrawee Prissananantakul, Bhumjaithai’s MP for Ang Thong, clearly asserted that while they never opposed the entertainment complex idea, the party is wary of seeing just one or two companies monopolize the gaming industry.
During a joint House of Representatives and Senate meeting focused on the government’s casino proposal, Mr. Korrawee emphasized that ensuring fair income distribution is essential. He argued that situating such a complex in a small city might not allow for equitable financial benefits to spread widely.
“More importantly,” he added, “the government must meticulously weigh the pros and cons of casino legalization before moving forward. The crucial question remains whether it’s fair for the Thai population if the government exchanges this legalization for concessions estimated at 1 billion baht a year.”
Interestingly, he posed a thought-provoking proposition: “Why doesn’t the government invest and operate these casinos on its own and utilize the revenue to support impoverished citizens? This way, all Thais would stand to gain from this policy—not just a select group of investors.”
Further fueling this debate, ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra—regarded as the behind-the-scenes leader of Pheu Thai—had earlier articulated that the government’s entertainment complex project would necessitate a hefty investment of at least 100 billion baht. Yet, intriguingly, he reassured that the government wouldn’t need to invest even a single baht but could still enjoy the resulting benefits.
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the leader of the opposition People’s Party, chimed in to caution that the flagship plans—including casino legalization, digital wallet handouts, and the Land Bridge initiative—are poised to primarily benefit private investors.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat revealed that the casino proposal has already piqued significant interest from potential investors. “With the clear backing of coalition parties along with a favorable study by the Ministry of Finance, the project is now poised to be presented to the cabinet for consideration.”
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