Despite Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's announcement on April 8 to postpone the parliamentary deliberation of the "Comprehensive Entertainment Venues Act," the opposition has not given up.
Headed by Pichit Chaimongkol, chairman of the Student People's Reform Alliance of Thailand (SDRC), and joined by former Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan and Warong Dechgitvigrom, chairman of the Thai Loyalty Party, several civil groups gathered in front of Rajinibon School at the Bang Krabue intersection in Bangkok and then marched to the Parliament building, demanding the government completely withdraw the casino legalization bill.
"The government has lost credibility, the bill must be permanently scrapped"
Pichit delivered a speech at the protest site, emphasizing: "Since the Amnesty Law, this government has already lost the trust of the people. The delay of the bill is just a stalling tactic, our goal is total cancellation!" He warned that the Thai legal system is not yet robust, and once casinos are legalized, the government might take the opportunity to launder the "black industry," ultimately harming social order.
Warong directly criticized Paetongtarn's reason for the delay as untenable: "The government claims that the deliberation is postponed due to emergencies such as earthquakes, but the earthquake has already occurred, and only now they react? This is clearly an excuse!" He reiterated that as long as the government does not abandon the push for casino legalization, the protests will not stop.
"Entertainment complex? No, this is a breeding ground for crime!"
The protesters refuse to accept the government's portrayal of casinos as "comprehensive entertainment venues." Warong denounced: "This is a gathering place for gangs, a paradise for money laundering! If the government insists on proceeding, it is betraying the nation!" Protesters at the scene held up banners such as "Reject Casinos" and "Protect Thai Values," and some groups even threatened to escalate the scale of the struggle if the government does not compromise.
The deep-seated contradictions behind the political maneuvering
This protest reflects the profound divisions in Thai society. The Paetongtarn government views the legalization of casinos as a key measure to stimulate tourism and the economy, and has set high thresholds (such as a deposit certificate of 50 million Thai baht required for Thai citizens to enter) based on the Singapore model. However, polls show that over 60% of the public opposes legalization, fearing worsening public order and gambling addiction.
Analysts point out that the postponement of the bill may only be a temporary measure. The ruling Pheu Thai Party still hopes to restart deliberations in the future, but if protests continue to ferment, it may further intensify social divisions and even affect the electoral landscape of the 2027 general election.
