However, the suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra says her political rival has misrepresented her conversation about gambling policy with the Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Paetongtarn met with Xi during a visit to Beijing in February this year.

Casino Bill: Chinese Tourism Takes a Hit

The Bangkok Post quoted Anutin Charnvirakul, the former Interior Minister and the leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, as blaming the bill for a rapid drop in tourism income from China.

Anutin hit out at the governing coalition’s biggest party, Pheu Thai. He said Paetongtarn and her party took a “dismissive attitude” to Xi’s “repeated warnings” not to attempt to legalize casinos.

The bill, which the government has since ditched, proposed allowing foreign firms to build integrated casino-resort complexes in Thailand.

Anutin alleged that Xi asked Paetongtarn to abandon the bill three times. He said Xi warned that “otherwise, the Chinese government would need to implement measures to significantly reduce Chinese travel.” Xi also threatened to reduce trade and investment in Thailand, said Anutin.

Anutin added that Paetongtarn’s failure to heed Xi’s warning has resulted in a 90% drop in Chinese tourist arrivals.

But the media outlet Khaosod reported that Paetongtarn said Anutin was trying to “stir up trouble.” She said that Xi made several recommendations, which she listened to closely.

Paetongtarn explained: “[Xi] spoke about casinos out of concern and gave advice. We explained that Thailand’s policy was to create entertainment complexes like those in Singapore and Macau.”

These complexes would help generate income for Thailand and create new jobs, she reiterated.

Suspended PM Hits Back at Opposition Leader

Paetongtarn is currently serving as Thailand’s Culture Minister, after the Constitutional Court temporarily suspended her leadership of the government.

The court ruling came after a controversial leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and her Cambodian counterpart. During the call, Paetongtarn allegedly made disparaging remarks about a Thai military officer.

But Paetongtarn said a raft of other issues, including a rise in voice phishing call center-related crime, were the real reasons behind a drop in Chinese tourism.

She explained: “Not long after Anutin left his position, he forgot the reason why Chinese tourists don’t come to Thailand. It’s because of safety issues. That is the responsibility of the Interior Minister, the position he held at that time.”

Gambling is illegal in Mainland China. However, gambling operations are permitted in Macau and Hong Kong, which have separate legal and economic systems.

Hong Kong’s government is currently mulling a proposal to legalize betting on professional basketball league games.

Per official figures, Thailand welcomed around 11.1 million Chinese tourists in 2019. This accounted for almost a third of total tourist arrivals.

This figure dropped in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the government launched a set of new campaigns designed to attract Chinese tourists.

Some forecasters predict that only 5 million Chinese tourists will have visited Thailand by the end of 2025, down from 6.7 million in 2024.

Bhumjaithai dropped out of the government coalition earlier this year. Anutin claimed that the casino bill had helped drive a wedge between the party and Pheu Thai.

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According to Bloomberg, Chief Whip Visuth Chainaroon stated that the government will propose a motion to withdraw the bill from the parliamentary agenda on Wednesday.

Visuth told media representatives on July 7: “We are not pulling this bill from the agenda out of fear or anything. We would just like to communicate with the people first on the issue and clear up any lingering doubts.”

Thai Government to Withdraw Casino Bill

The move comes just days after the government said it would not officially withdraw the bill, but instead seek to deprioritize it.

The government previously claimed that the controversial bill would help raise tax revenues for Thailand and assist the tourism sector in eliminating the concept of off-seasons.

Critics asserted the bill would drive social problems like problem gambling and help facilitate money laundering.

The media outlet said the bill’s failure would “frustrate foreign investors interested in developing casinos in Thailand as part of big entertainment complexes.”

Major casino operators, including Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, and Melco Resorts & Entertainment, all expressed their interest in the project.

Some of these operators even held talks with the government earlier this year. Several companies discussed building complexes in central Bangkok with government ministers.

Thailand is one of the few nations in Southeast Asia that does not have a regulated casino sector or plans to establish one.

The government said that if Bangkok were to green-light casino development plans, the move would bring foreign capital into the country and help create thousands of new jobs.

Bill’s Champion ‘Temporarily Suspended’

Critics of the bill have been vociferous, particularly in the Thai parliament. Most notable of all was the Bhumjaithai Party, a former member of the ruling coalition.

Since voicing its opposition to the bill, which Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra championed, Bhumjaithai has left the coalition and joined the opposition.

Then, in early July, the Constitutional Court temporarily suspended Paetongtarn from office, following a petition from the Senate, which also opposed the bill.

A controversial leaked phone call between Paetongtarn and Cambodian leader Hun Sen also incensed the public.

During the call, Paetongtarn was heard making derogatory remarks about a Thai military leader as the two leaders discussed an ongoing border crisis.

Members of the public held protests against the bill in late March and early April. The government countered by claiming that casinos would occupy a maximum of 10% of the complex’s floor space

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Bangkok said it had held talks with the likes of MGM and Wynn Resorts over the complexes, whereby casinos would occupy a maximum of 10% of floor space.

However, the proposal was met with public and political outcry. Following street protests against the proposal in March and April, the Deputy Prime Minister and former Prime Minister joined senators in calling for the government to ditch the plan.

The Bangkok Post reported that the government has since “bowed to growing public pressure by stepping back” from its plan.

Thai Casino Bill Placed On The Backburner

The government had hoped to fast-track its bill when parliament reconvenes in early July following a summer break.

It had tabled the plan as the first bill up for deliberation on a July 9 session. However, the government has instead chosen to deprioritize a debate on the casino proposal.

The Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri said that the draft law had already been placed on the parliamentary agenda.

As such, she said that only a formal house resolution could ensure its total removal from the schedule.

Manaporn said the ruling Pheu Thai Party has informed the government’s chief whip that it wants to defer debate on the bill, and place it at the bottom of its list of priority draft laws.

The deputy minister said the party’s decision was part of its commitment to listening to public opinion.

She denied that the decision had anything to do with the opposition People’s Party’s recent call for Pheu Thai to scrap the bill. Manaporn said: “We don’t need the opposition to tell us what to do. The government always listens to the people. We take their voices into account.”

Despite Manaporn’s assertions, however, there can be little doubt that pressure from the Thai parliament played a key role in derailing the bill.

The Bhumjaithai Party, Pheu Thai’s former coalition partner, has left the ruling coalition after its leader voiced objections to the bill.

This has whittled down the size of the coalition’s majority to just seven seats. In recent days, Bhumjaithai has also called for another vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Political Pressure Growing for PM Paetongtarn

Paetongtarn has already seen off one challenge to her leadership this year. But fears that Bhumjaithai’s proposal will gain momentum continue to grow.

Casinos remain illegal in Thailand. Paetongtarn, who championed the bill, claimed that green-lighting casino-resorts would help boost year-round tourism-related business and tax revenues.

Her government also claimed it could boost Thailand’s GDP by 0.8% and create between 9,000 and 15,000 new jobs.

While some had suggested green-lighting casinos only on the condition that they do not admit Thai citizens, MGM questioned the financial viability of such a proposal.

An MGM official said that similar initiatives elsewhere in Asia have struggled to remain profitable by only admitting foreign passport holders.

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This could put the government on a collision course with senators and ruling coalition members.

The Senate has called for a full review of the government’s proposal to create special casino-entertainment complexes throughout the nation.

Thai Casino Bill: High Priority for Paetongtarn

Senators think their review will wrap some sometime in October. Senate officials have also joined the country’s Deputy Prime Minister in calling for a referendum on the bill.

Many lawmakers are bitterly opposed to the bill, and the proposal has been met with public demonstrations outside parliament this year.

However, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appears to have prioritized the bill, claiming it will boost the economy and end the concept of off-seasons in the tourism sector.

Paetongtarn appears determined to push ahead with the bill, even if it causes ruptures in the ruling coalition.

The Bangkok Post quoted Julapun as saying that there “are only about five to seven top-tier global operators” capable of building these new complexes.

Julapun claims that all of these investors consider Thailand a promising investment destination. The Deputy Minister said these firms appear especially eager to build casinos in the Thai capital.

He explained: “Bangkok, in particular, is seen as highly suitable, with the potential to support more than one entertainment complex.”

The Thai Prime Minister was in Monaco over the weekend, where she met the principality’s hereditary ruler, Prince Albert II, ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix. The PM said her government was working on a proposal to establish a Thai Formula 1 event.

Various Thai media outlets have reported that casino regulation was also on Paetongtarn’s agenda during her Monaco visit.

MGM: Keep Tax Rates Competitive and Admit Thai Visitors

Julapun said that investors were ready to invest between $6.2 billion and $9.2 billion in each site. He added that the government was likely to cap the number of projects it approves “at three to five, and not exceeding seven.”

The government claims it has already spoken to Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts about investment possibilities. Bangkok also claims it is set to meet two unnamed investors in the days ahead.

MGM told the government it should allow domestic visitors to visit casino complexes, rather than creating gambling spaces that only admit foreign passport holders.

Ed Bowers, the President of Global Development at MGM, told the Bangkok Post (in a separate report) that granting domestic visitors entry would be important.

The MGM executive suggested South Korea’s casino experience should function as a cautionary tale. Bowers noted that most casinos in the country do not allow South Korean passport holders to gamble.

Bowers added that this has left many South Korean casinos struggling, with one integrated resort reportedly put up for sale due to a lack of visitors.

He explained that casino resorts can be a poor fit for countries with a mismatch between the government’s aspirations and operators’ needs.

‘Tighter Levels of Control’

Bowers also urged Bangkok not to price Thais out of the casino market with prohibitive entry fees. He said casinos should not charge Thai visitors more than the 6,000 yen ($42.07) flat casino entry fee for Japanese nationals now being discussed in Tokyo.

MGM also wants Thailand to refrain from imposing heavy taxes on the legal gambling sector. Bowers noted that Singapore charges casinos an average tax rate of 17% on gross gaming revenue. In Macau, the tax rate is 40%, with Japan setting a rate of 30%.

Bowers added that bigger cities should only house one large integrated resort. However, the MGM official said that metropolises like Bangkok may house two casinos if facilities were smaller.

Julapun, meanwhile, hit out at accusations that the new complexes could facilitate money laundering and spike gambling addiction rates. The deputy minister said: “The level of control in entertainment complex casinos is actually stricter than in the banking sector. All visitors will be required to register, and nearly every square inch of the casino area will be monitored by surveillance cameras.”

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The Bangkok Post reported that the police officers, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), and anti-corruption agencies raided Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom on May 20.

After uncovering various financial irregularities and undeclared, temple-linked accounts, the officers launched their newest probe.

Thai Abbot Scandal Intensifies

The 70-year-old former abbot, Yaem Intrangkrungkao (formerly Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat), was formally disrobed this month. Yaem has reportedly made a full confession to police.

Wat Rai Khing told the National Office of Buddhism (NOB) that it only had four bank accounts. Officers said temple officials had opened “at least 49 accounts,” operated by over 10 individuals.

Police say they are now seeking warrants for these individuals and associated beneficiaries. They are particularly keen to arrest a woman known as “Toey.” Police suspect Toey of managing temple finances on Yaem’s behalf.

Officers think Toey may have transferred temple income to private vacation resorts and music-related enterprises in Thailand’s Mukdahan Province.

The CIB’s Deputy Commissioner, Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, said the former abbot and his aides may have used the accounts to hide their financial activities.

A payment of 18 million baht ($554,000) worth of temple funds was transferred directly into Yaem’s personal accounts.

Temple Did Not Keep Financial Records, Say Police

Police are also investigating suspicions that the abbot and his aides may have misappropriated money from selling religious items. Investigators think the temple failed to record land rental deals and festival stall sales properly.

These activities may have raised about 100 million baht ($3.1 million) annually.

So far, police have arrested a number of individuals suspected of helping Yaem, including the 28-year-old gambling broker Aranyawan Wangthapan. Officers have also detained Ekkapot Phukhang, a former monk and Yaem aide.

The Nation Thailand reported that police discovered that Wat Rai Khing halted financial aid to the public Metta Pracharak (Wat Rai Khing) Hospital three years ago, despite continuing to ask visitors to donate to its upkeep.

Officers say they found two bank accounts ostensibly created to receive public donations for the hospital, which is located on temple-owned land.

Donation boxes for the hospital remain at Wat Rai Khing. However, investigators say no transactions have been made from either account to the hospital for the past three years.

Wat Rai Khing built the hospital using public donations. The temple later handed control of the hospital to the Public Health Ministry’s Department of Medical Services.

Supreme Patriarch’s Office Steps In

Thailand’s top monk, the Supreme Patriarch, has responded to the scandal by ordering temples nationwide to ensure their accounts are transparent.

Per a separate Bangkok Post report, Booncherd Kittitrangkul, the NOB’s Deputy Director-General, announced that the Thai Supreme Patriarch has spoken to the Sangha Supreme Council about the matter. The council is the top ecclesiastical body for Thailand’s Buddhist order, and the Supreme Patriarch is the head of the Thai monastic order.

Booncherd said the parties had agreed to work with the government to create new regulations for temple asset management.

The council also wants to use digital solutions to ensure that temple finance and accountancy are brought up to a higher legal standard.

The NOB will also create new departments for temple affairs and legal issues. These departments will help police and Supreme Patriarch officials monitor temple asset management more closely.

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Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said on May 19 that Wynn and MGM have already held talks with senior government officials.

The Bangkok Post quoted Julapun as stating that the government held talks with MGM on May 19 following a previous meeting with Wynn.

Wynn, MGM: Thai Casino Plans?

The Deputy Finance Minister added that two other unnamed “major foreign investment firms have also scheduled meetings to discuss potential investments. “

Julapun said: “Both Wynn and MGM Resorts share the same view as us. They are interested in investing in Thailand and believe our legal framework is quite solid, especially regarding money laundering and gambling regulation.”

The government official added that potential investors know they are participating in an open consultation phase.

He said that Bangkok intends to hold a “fair and transparent bidding process” before issuing concessions.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her ruling Pheu Thai Party want to legalize casinos as part of new entertainment complexes.

However, she will need lawmakers to approve her proposal to legalize the gambling sector. Many MPs and senators, including Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, bitterly oppose the bill.

Anutin and leading senators have called on Paetongtarn to hold a referendum on the proposal, claiming it violates the Thai constitution.

Demonstrators expressed displeasure at the proposal outside the parliament building in early April.

Despite Paetongtarn’s efforts to fast-track the bill through parliament, senators want to hold a review. Experts claim this could hold up the bill until the last few months of the year.

But Paetongtarn’s government appears undeterred. Julapun said: “We are now clearly signalling that we are open to discussions with investors. Especially as we move forward with drafting legislation and seek to attract over 100 billion baht [$3 billion] in investment.”

We Only Want to Work With Major Companies, Says Thai Government

Julapun added that the government will not work with small or unprepared investors due to worries about their capacity to adhere to regulations and fight gambling addiction and money laundering.

The Deputy Minister says the government must listen to industry stakeholders to ensure that new regulations comply with global standards and align with investors’ expectations.

Earlier this month, the former abbot of one of Thailand’s most famous temples was publicly disrobed over allegations he stole money from temple funds to spend on illegal online gambling platforms.

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The bill’s champion is Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who wants to legalize casinos in new entertainment complexes.

The PM says that legal casinos would be built using foreign capital and would help boost tax revenue.

But her plans have been beset by public and political opposition. Critics claim that the bill would facilitate money laundering and organized crime.

Casino Referendum Talk Grows

The Bangkok Post quoted the Senate Special Committee Chair Veerapun Suvannamai as suggesting that a referendum on the bill is inevitable.

The committee believes that the bill contradicts elements of the Thai constitution. This means it would require a mandate from the public rather than lawmakers’ approval.

Last week, Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, also called for a referendum on the bill.

The party is part of the ruling government coalition, but many of its senior members remain bitterly opposed to casino legalization.

The Senate committee discussed the bill’s practical challenges. Senator Chirmsak Pinthong suggested the draft law was a back-door bid to legalize large-scale casinos.

Chirmsak blasted the policy unit behind the bill, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, dubbing it the “casino cabinet.”

The same senator claimed that the bill would allow for Bangkok to grant concessions without a bidding process, public hearing, or environmental impact assessment.

Chirmsak also warned that the government’s plans to grant 30-year casino concessions could create problems for future generations.

Other senators also expressed their doubts, including Kaewsan Atibhoti, who opined that the bill could benefit foreign investors more than Thais.

PM to Face Senate in June

Senators had previously invited the Prime Minister to attend the committee meeting. But neither Paetongtarn nor her delegate, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, showed up at the meeting, with both away on official business in Vietnam.

Veerapun said that the committee wants Paetongtarn to visit the chamber on June 5 instead.

In a separate report, the same media outlet claimed that cracks were beginning to deepen in the coalition.

It wrote that speculation is now rife that Bhumjaithai may be “thrown out of the coalition” as Paetongtarn’s Pheu Thai Party continues to clash with its coalition partner on the casino bill and other matters.

Bhumjaithai has 70 seats in parliament. If it were to exit the coalition as feared, the government may need to turn to opposition parties for support.

But soHowever,of these parties are also vehemently opposed to the bill. These include the Palang Pracharath Party, which has 20 seats. Party leader Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn said of the draft law: “Our stance has never been clearer. We don’t agree with the casino bill.”

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Last week, Phra Thamma Wachiranuwat (lay name: Yaem Intrangkrungkao), the long-serving head monk of Wat Rai Khing, in Thailand’s Nakhon Pathom Province, turned himself in to police.

Officers had been preparing a warrant for his arrest. The former abbot admitted to embezzling 300 million baht (over $9 million) worth of temple funds. Investigators think he used the money to place bets on online betting sites.

Reporters watched as the 70-year-old was officially disrobed before a Buddhist statue on May 15.

Thai Abbot, Broker, and Others Arrested

Police have since widened the scope of their investigation. The Nation Thailand reported that officers arrested Yaem’s aide Ekkapot Phukhang. The latter is accused of helping the former abbot place online bets with temple funds.

Investigators say Ekkapot has admitted to helping send money, received from Yaem, to an online gambling broker named Aranyawan Wangthapan.

Officers in Pattaya also arrested the broker. Police suspect Aranyawan of further money laundering offences. They believe the broker helped launder over 800 million baht ($24.2 million) through three companies.

According to reports, the funds may have ended up on the platform of the online gambling website LAGALAXY911. The site was the subject of a cyberpolice probe in 2024.

Officers are making a concerted bid to shut down the platform permanently and have asked a court to grant arrest warrants for 24 suspects. Investigators want to arrest the site’s financial managers, developers, accountants, and various cash and card mules.

In an editorial piece, the Bangkok Post called for “meaningful and fundamental reform” to prevent an erosion of public trust. The newspaper stated: “Temples are legal entities, and abbots are effectively public officials. Many, including major temples like Wat Rai Khing, receive state funding through stipends and maintenance grants.”

The newspaper concluded: “When religious institutions rely on public resources and shape national morality, financial accountability is not optional. It is essential.”

The scandal comes amid a police crackdown on illegal gambling in border areas and controversy over the government’s plans to legalize casinos in special entertainment complexes.

Claw Machine Crackdown

Elsewhere in the country, police in Nakhon Si Thammarat have begun seizing coin-operated claw machines, also known as crane grabbers.

In a separate report, the Bangkok Post explained that police say the machines are drawing schoolchildren into gambling-like behavior patterns.

Parents have complained that their children spend their pocket money on unregistered devices.

A spokesperson claimed many of the machines have been installed near schools and tutoring centres.

The spokesperson added that many of these operate without proper permits or ownership identification.

The Deputy Superintendent of Tha Sala Police Station said the machines may be classified as gambling devices under Thai law, and machine owners who try to reclaim their seized machines would face legal action.

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The divisive draft law continues to dominate headlines in the Southeast Asian nation. The Bangkok Post quoted Senator Veerapun Suvannamai, Chairman of the Senate Special Committee, saying that lawmakers have asked Paetongtarn and “former prime ministers” to attend a meeting on May 15.

Veerapun said that senators have requested the presence of Thaksin Shinawatra. The latter is Paetongtarn’s father, and served as Thai Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006.

Thai Senators Hopeful Paetongtarn Will Defend Bill in Person

Paetongtarn has claimed that her political opponents have been trying to weaponize the draft law. The bill seeks to legalize casinos within special entertainment complexes.Observers say the bill could destabilize the ruling government coalition at a dangerous time for Paetongtarn. The PM survived a vote of no confidence earlier this year. Critics accused her of taking secret orders from her still-influential father.

The Senate’s special committee chief noted that while Paetongtarn is entitled to appoint a representative (likely a senior government minister) to attend in her place, senators want her to appear in person.

The committee has already established a framework to assess the project’s potential drawbacks and benefits.

It has also formed subcommittees to investigate possible economic and social effects. Sources told the same media outlet that the subcommittees will present their findings in early November.

This timeframe could irk the bill’s proponents. The government had tabled a first reading in the lower house, the House of Representatives, on April 9.

However, following public and political opposition, Paetongtarn agreed to delay the first reading. The government says the chamber will now read the bill during the next parliamentary session. Lawmakers will reconvene on July 2 after a short summer break.

PM: Legal Casinos Will Help Boost Tax Revenues

Paetongtarn defended her bill on television this month, claiming it would boost annual tax revenue and help the Thai tourism industry avoid the notion of off-seasons.

Paetongtarn also claimed that strict rules, background checks, and security protocols would ensure safety at the new casinos.

She insisted that the complexes would all be backed by foreign capital, not taxpayers’ money.  Critics say that green-lighting casinos will lead to a rise in youth gambling addictions and money laundering.

Anti-casino demonstrators protested outside the parliament building in Bangkok in early April, demanding that the government abandon the bill.

Any further delay could impact the ambitious new plans to redevelop Bangkok’s port area.

Bangkok Port Development Plans

In a separate report, the newspaper wrote that Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri has announced that an entertainment complex has been included in a planned commercial redevelopment of some 20% of the Bangkok Port compound in the Klong Toey District.

Manaporn was quoted as saying that a casino had not been included in the proposal “at this stage.” He added that the addition of a casino to the proposal is “dependent on casinos being legalised. “

The government wants to convert 832,000 square meters of real estate into an entertainment complex. It also wants to build a cruise terminal and retail spaces at the port. The proposed complex would also hold offices, residential buildings, shopping malls, and hotels.

Manaporn says that the ministry has commissioned a study of the plan. Bangkok has handed surveyors a 20 million baht (over $607,000) budget.

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The PM claimed that her political opponents were trying to weaponize the bill. She said they were playing games to stoke confusion and drive public opposition to her government.

The bill proposes allowing casinos to operate within special entertainment complexes in the country. These complexes would also house luxury hotels and concert halls.

Thai Prime Minister: Casinos Will Provide Treasury Boost

Paetongtarn claims that the move will help boost year-round foreign tourism income. However, critics say that casinos will act as a magnet for money laundering schemes and criminal gangs.

The bill threatens to divide Paetongtarn’s ruling coalition government, with some politicians bitterly opposed to the draft law.

Demonstrators held rallies in front of the Bangkok parliament building in April, urging Paetongtarn to abandon the bill.

But the Bangkok Post reported that Paetongtarn appeared on TV to defend the draft law. She claimed it could help bring in a significant influx of foreign investment. The PM said: “The investment isn’t coming from the state or people’s tax money. It’s private, and it is foreign capital.”

Regulated, responsible gambling could also help Thailand raise more revenue through taxation, she added. Paetongtarn said: “There will be strict rules, background checks, and security standards to ensure this is not a place where anyone can walk in dreaming of winning millions and just leave with it. That’s not how it works.”

The PM also claimed that her plan would help create jobs for citizens and help the Thai tourism industry eliminate the concept of low seasons.

She warned that some people with political agendas were distorting the narrative surrounding the plan. Critics are intentionally misleading the public, she added.

The Thai leader said her opponents were trying to “make it seem as though Thailand is about to become a haven of vice, which is just not true.”

Casino Money Laundering Dangers Are Real, Says Critic

Paetongtarn concluded that failure to back her plan would eventually cause people to look at similar projects in other countries, “and wonder why Thailand doesn’t have that.”

However, Thanakorn Komkrit, the Secretary-General of the Stop Gambling Foundation, attacked the proposal on social media.

Thanakorn urged his followers to refer to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s latest report on casinos and cross-border crime in Southeast Asia.

The UN agency has claimed that many in the money laundering gangs in the region are taking advantage of loopholes and blind spots in casino regulations.

Thanakorn noted that the UN agency has found evidence of money at Southeast Asian casinos involving collusion between players.

The agency added that some illicit junket tours facilitate VIP gambling across borders, and others layer financial transactions to hide their origins. Thanakorn mused, “Are we ready to deal with this kind of 24/7 laundering convenience?”

Paetongtarn survived a vote of no confidence in parliament in March this year. Opponents claimed that she is unqualified for the post.

They also alleged that she was taking orders from her father, Thaksin Shinawatra. The latter served as the Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006 and remains an influential figure in the political and business spheres.

Paetongtarn’s aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, also served as Thai Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014.

In April, the Royal Thai Police announced plans to launch a dedicated task force to fight tech-related crimes and human trafficking in border areas.

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