Thailand's House of Representatives recently elected Anutin Charnvirakul as the 32nd Prime Minister by a vote of 293 to 119. The leader of the Proud Thai Party officially returned after the February general election. His inauguration marks the end of Thailand's casino legalization plan—the "Comprehensive Entertainment Business Act" previously pushed by former Prime Minister Peotang Sinawatra is now beyond revival. Simply put, the new boss is not going ahead with the casino business.
A single phone call destroys a billion-dollar market
Peotang and her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, a key political figure in Thailand, once saw casinos as crucial for revitalizing post-pandemic tourism, attracting foreign investment, and creating jobs. The original plan was to develop five casinos: two in Bangkok, and one each in Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. However, a 17-minute phone call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen about a border conflict was leaked, causing outrage. Her calling Hun Sen "uncle" and saying "just tell me what you want" sparked national protests, and her approval rating plummeted to 9.2%. Months later, she was forced to step down, and Anutin took over as interim Prime Minister in September 2025, now officially re-elected.
New Prime Minister's stance: Wait for the next one for casinos
From the beginning, Anutin made it clear that Thailand "has to wait for the next Prime Minister" to see legal casinos. Unlike his predecessor, he believes that legal gambling would actually suppress Thailand's most important tourism market—China. In a meeting with Chinese leaders last November, he personally assured that the casino plan would not proceed during his term, while the Chinese side promised to support more Chinese tourists visiting Thailand. This political exchange highlights Anutin's cautious strategy in balancing domestic and international pressures.
Industry reaction: Six Macau casinos were once eager
Facing a potential market valued at 263 billion Thai Baht (about 8 billion USD), top global gambling operators were eager to bid. Operators from six Macau casinos—Melco, Galaxy, MGM, Wynn, Sands China, and SJM—were all interested in bidding, with Melco even having set up an office in Bangkok. However, the chairman of Hard Rock International bluntly stated "zero interest" in Thailand due to "instability". A Macau gambling consultant pointedly noted: "Thailand's gambling plan is dead. The long-standing social antipathy in this Buddhist country not only persists but has made this issue political suicide."
Although Anutin's conservative stance has won the support of some people, seen as a defender of traditional Thai culture, others criticize him for missing an important opportunity for economic growth. Currently, Thailand will continue to focus on other tourism strategies, including attracting Chinese tourists, as part of a larger vision for economic recovery. Want to know the latest trends in the Asian gambling market? PASA official website keeps track.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leaders," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
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