2 weeks Ago
The contentious casino entertainment complex project has become one of the top 10 priorities for the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government. The proposed project again reflects the "Thaksin thinks, daughter delivers" discourse. It is one of the proposals that the ex-leader mentioned in his speech on his vision for the nation last month, a few weeks before Ms Paetongtarn delivered the government's policy statement in parliament.
In fact, the idea of an entertainment complex that would include a casino is not new. Previous governments, including Thaksin's or even Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's, wanted the plan to come to fruition. Thaksin himself wanted it when he began his political career in the early 2000s, but stiff resistance from the public forced him to shelve the idea.
Now that the Pheu Thai Party has consolidated power, Thaksin has proposed it again. This time, Pheu Thai can garner support from the Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party, a key coalition partner, for supporting its pro-cannabis policy. BJT also wants to legalise online gambling.
With BJT's support, Pheu Thai is confident it can shrug off staunch opposition from the public. It should be noted that the Finance Ministry's Entertainment Complex bill has undergone some changes. In particular, the part about how a casino should only occupy 5% of the land of an entertainment complex, as proposed by a Lower House committee tasked with studying project feasibility, has been removed.
In fact, Thaksin had previously said that the casino area should take up 10% of the overall space, as in Singapore. Observers lash out at the change in the bill, saying that the government is promoting "free casinos," not entertainment complexes. Critics are worth an open ear, as the government wants the project to kick off next year.
Once the draft bill is complete, it will be sent to the cabinet, the House, and the Senate, which is under BJT control. As the government wants to speed up the project, some key investors have shown their interest. Among them are the Royal Turf Club of Thailand, which sees the Klong Toey Port in central Bangkok as a potential complex site, and Siam Park City (formerly Siam Park), which says it is financially ready to invest.
Initially, Thaksin had thought big, projecting developers of such a complex in Bangkok to invest a minimum of 100 billion baht. But later, after a compromise was reached, the project scope was scaled down with lower investment requirements. This means it could be easier for such a contentious project to spread to the provinces.
As they reach a compromise, the BJT, which prefers medium-sized operators, has stepped up calls for the decriminalisation of all the underground economy, gambling dens, online gambling, card games, etc. Gambling proponents also take this opportunity to demand amendments to the existing Gambling Control Act, which was promulgated in 1935, to pave the way for legalised online games, for instance. Indeed, there are grounds for concerns about a rise in crime, ie, robbery, and social problems, if gambling places spread across the country.
Kickbacks would increase, too. It could be said the reciprocal deal with BJT secures a chance for the project. Now potential gambling operators are more than ready to jump in.
Under the current bill, a Super Board chaired by the PM would be set up. It is to have full authority to name the project contractor without bidding, issue and renew licences and decide on locations. The contractors would be required to pay 5 billion baht in registration fees and 1 billion baht in annual operating fees.
Firms must be registered in Thailand and have 100 billion baht in capital. They have to build at least four of the 10 types of sub-projects: shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, game facilities, sports facilities, yachts in the cruising site, pub/discotheque, swimming pool, theme park, cultural/OTOP centre, and others as required by the Super Board. There are no tax details just yet.
Under the bill, the casino would be open to all Thais over 20 years old. Patrons would be required to pay a 5,000-baht entrance fee. However, if we take a closer look at the bill, we will have several questions, particularly about the absence of the criteria for the places to be designated for project location and the number of complexes to be allowed.
As a matter of principle, a project with large-scale side effects like this one should engage the public more, as recommended by the House panel. But in reality, the government passes over recommendations by the panel, including calls to conduct public hearings or consultations in potential complex sites. It has removed the entire part regarding public participation from the bill.
Such an exclusion will backfire in the long run. Instead, the government must make a U-turn. If it wants to hasten the casino policy, it must hold a referendum, given that casinos are not part of the party's campaign policy.
The government would then not be confined by timelines or electoral promises. Indeed, the government will hold a referendum early next year on rewriting the charter, so it may add a question regarding casinos and pay heed to public concerns. Chairith Yonpiam is assistant news editor, Bangkok Post.
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