State executive in agreement

The executive branch of Thailand’s government has given its approval to legalize gambling in the Southeast Asia country. 

Led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand’s Cabinet of State gave its thumbs up to the 22-page Complete Entertainment Business Act B.E. on Monday.

act will now be reviewed by the Council of State

PM Shinawatra announced the decision while stating the draft CEB act will now be reviewed by the Council of State, ahead of its presentation to parliament.

Thailand’s gambling bill aims to integrate casinos into tourism-boosting entertainment complexes featuring hotels, convention centers, and amusement parks.  According to Thai media, however, Thailand’s seemingly unstoppable surge towards integrated casino resorts by 2029 has been checked by reports of a rising internal challenge. 

Challenge raised

According to a report by The Bangkok Post on Monday, Thailand’s Council of State will contest CEB on the basis it breaches government policy and insufficiently addresses illegal gambling.

The Council believes the bill is overly focused on IRCs at the expense of the government’s wider aim of promoting tourism. According to The Post, an unnamed source claimed the Council also wants to see “a clear definition of entertainment complexes and whether they must include hotels, restaurants and other related businesses.”

whether amending the existing Gambling Act 1935 might be a better option

The key question the Council is posing centers on illegal gambling and whether amending the existing Gambling Act 1935 might be a better option than agreeing an entirely new law.

CEB includes plans to develop privately owned, large-scale entertainment venues with “a minimum paid-up capital of at least TBH 10 billion” ($285m). 

Time will tell

While all is pointing towards Thailand getting a regional strategic jump on Japan and launching IRs in 2029, the Council’s concerns add a fresh political twist.

The country’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn appointed the 35-member Cabinet under new PM Shinawatra in August 2024 after Shinawatra’s predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, was forced out of office.

The Council of State is a department also directly appointed by the King, the country’s supreme soveriegn leader, which gives added intrigue to its questioning of CEB.