- Thai PM Anutin has disavowed the country’s push to legalize casinos
- Anutin told Chinese President Xi that Thailand won’t authorize gambling resorts
It was only several months ago that Thailand was poised to join China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and South Korea in being home to casino resorts. But following a scandal in the Phitsanulok Mansion and a new government, the odds of Thailand joining those Asian nations in being a gaming country have severely lengthened.
Thai PM Anutin Charnvirakul, unlike his ousted predecessor, is no fan of casino gambling. He’s vowed a “no casino policy,” and doubled down on that position this weekend at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in South Korea.
During his sideline bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Anutin pledged his anti-gambling stance to the People’s Republic leader, whose country is the world’s second-largest economy. China permits casinos in Macau, one of the two Special Administrative Regions in the PRC.
Thailand and China have enjoyed a historically strong relationship, both economically and on global initiatives.
No Casino Pledge Vital
China is Thailand’s largest trading partner, while Thailand is among China’s largest sources of tourists. Home to about 72 million people, China is a marquee vacation destination for Thai people, with Macau among the most favored destinations. Flights from Bangkok to the casino capital of Asia are less than three hours.
Former Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s push to legalize casinos faced pushback from China on worries that it would dampen visitation to Macau and mainland resort towns. Shinawatra said casinos would jumpstart the Thai economy and bring new visitors to the country.
Following her removal from office after she criticized the Thai military during a leaked phone call with Hun Sen, Cambodia’s Senate president and former prime minister, Anutin was elected by the National Assembly’s House of Representatives and immediately folded on the casino plan.
We have other options to improve the economy of Thailand, relying on the capabilities of the Thai people, Thai products, and Thai technology,” Anutin stated after meeting with Xi, as reported by The Nation.
Anutin told reporters that Xi “praised” his anti-casino commitment. Xi reportedly told the new PM that while China would not have interfered with Thailand’s decision to authorize casinos, he would have taken internal measures to crack down on Chinese people traveling abroad purely for casino tourism.
With the casino matter seemingly behind them, Anutin and Xi said their meeting, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Thailand-China diplomatic relations, established a joint vision for a “safe and prosperous future.”
Gaming Legislation Halted
Anutin, of the Bhumjaithai Party, which disavowed Shinawatra and prompted her eventual removal, is now the controlling government party in the National Assembly. Shinawatra’s Pheu Thai has been relegated to the opposition.
Anutin says the gaming bills the Pheu Thai were pushing, which sought to allow as many as five casino resorts, with two in Bangkok and one each in Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, have been shelved.
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