Opponents of bringing Las Vegas-style casinos to Thailand say they’ve collected enough signatures to trigger a nationwide referendum.
The Stop Gambling Foundation of Thailand, backed by more than 200 civic groups, claims to have gathered over 53,900 signatures from citizens opposed to the Pheu Thai Party’s push to legalize slot machines and table games. The National Referendum Act requires at least 50,000 verified signatures for a citizen-led vote.
The Election Commission will now verify the petitions. If the tally holds, the proposal moves to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Cabinet for consideration.
A referendum “would give the government a clear mandate and provide investor confidence in any future legal framework,” said Thanakorn Khomkrit of the Stop Gambling Foundation, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, argues Thailand must diversify its tourism sector to compete with markets like Singapore and the Philippines, where major integrated resorts operate.
Opposition Claims Casino Bill Rushed
Legal gambling in Thailand is currently limited to the state lottery and horse racing, a structure unchanged since the 1935 Gambling Act. Though expanded gambling has periodically been discussed, Shinawatra has made passing a casino bill a priority since taking office last August.
At 38, she is Thailand’s youngest prime minister and only the second woman to hold the office, following her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra. Under her leadership, the Pheu Thai-controlled legislature has accelerated work on a casino bill.
Opponents argue the process is moving too fast, criticizing Shinawatra’s comparisons to Singapore and the Philippines—countries that spent years building regulatory frameworks before developing casino resorts.
“Singapore took a decade of research and consultation before making its decision,” said Wasinee Sonsaeb of the Youth Network Against Gambling. “Cherry-picking foreign models to suit an agenda while ignoring the rest is irresponsible.”
Despite gambling being illegal, Thailand hosts widespread underground betting operations often linked to money laundering, drugs, and prostitution.
Referendum Would Not Halt Lawmakers
Citizen-driven referendums serve mainly as a public signal of opposition rather than a binding legal barrier. Still, public sentiment appears largely against casino legalization. The current Pheu Thai proposal would allow casinos in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, with the government supportive of two properties in the capital and one in each remaining region.
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