Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has reaffirmed that the country’s casinos are included in the country’s entertainment policy. The move follows a trend in which she insists that all establishments comply with regulations under her regime to play their part in promoting responsible gambling in the Southeast Asian nation.
As reported by the local press, it compared itself to other major global destinations as a way of leveraging gambling as part of the country’s entertainment attractions. The message is that Thailand follows a formal protocol of regularity and care with this type of entertainment in the country.
Among the measures mentioned is the criminal record check, to which all visitors to Thai locations are subject.
“Entertainment complexes will not lead Thailand to its worst vices. Developed countries such as Singapore, the US, Japan and the UAE are following this global trend,” the prime minister said.
“They know that sand, sun and sea are no longer enough. There must be man-made (attractions). We don’t want Thailand to lose the trend,” Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.
After the Osaka Expo 2025, Japan will transform the island, which is the venue, into an entertainment complex, a destination specifically for the segment, over a period of five years.
Investment to stimulate increased tax revenues from casinos
According to her: “With (similar) entertainment complexes, there will be no low season in Thailand,” Paetongtarn said, drawing a parallel to the desire for growth in tourist and leisure numbers in the region.
The Thai leader detailed that casino venues would be just part of larger entertainment complexes that contain hotels and concert halls.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra explained that: “The investment will allow the government to collect more taxes. According to her, the tax comes from casino visitors. Therefore, the investment for the big venues would come from the private sector and not from the state purse.
Thailand has been tipped to follow Singapore’s casino model, with similar measures adopted by Japan and the United Arab Emirates.