Thai Prime Minister and leader of the For Thai Party, Anutin, recently reiterated his stance on the "gambling economy" during a media interview. He firmly opposed relying on gambling to stimulate the national economy, stating, "This is a matter for the next prime minister," and urged the public not to harbor any illusions about it.
When a journalist brought up recent discussions about "amending regulations to host international poker tournaments," Anutin responded that such matters need to be communicated with the Ministry of Interior, but he had already set boundaries—Thailand currently only recognizes "Class A" and "Class B" gambling licenses, and other forms are not permitted.
Regarding some political and business figures promoting the idea that "the gambling industry could become a new economic engine," Anutin took a firm stance, emphasizing that he would never legalize gambling during his term, nor would he allow gambling to become a direction for national development. He pointed out that the social risks and security threats posed by gambling far outweigh the so-called short-term fiscal revenue, and Thailand cannot afford to pay a heavy price for it.
This statement almost declares that the "Thai Casino Model" anticipated by the public is unlikely to be realized during his term. For interest groups hoping to rapidly boost the economy through the casino industry, this is undoubtedly a heavy blow, adding more uncertainty to the prospects of legalizing gambling in Thailand.
