Casino bill 'a time-bomb'

The casino-entertainment complex bill has become a political time-bomb for the Pheu Thai-led government, but questions remain as to which party will bear the brunt when the proposed law is put to a vote in parliament.

- Aekarach Sattaburuth

A first reading of this highly controversial bill in the House of Representatives was initially scheduled for April 9, but the government's attempt to fast-track its deliberation met with resistance, leading to a postponement until the next parliamentary session.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, also Pheu Thai leader, insisted the government has not withdrawn the bill, but it has urgent issues to focus on, including the United States' reciprocal tariffs.

She said the government would continue gathering public input and clearly communicate the project's aims, while opponents of the bill — which involves legalising casinos as part of entertainment complexes — demanded it be scrapped entirely.

How this political time-bomb unfolds largely depends on how each party handles it when the next session convenes on July 2.

There are possible scenarios for how this matter, widely seen as threatening coalition unity, plays out.

First, if the Paetongtarn Shinawatra administration decides to bide its time and wait until society is ready, the government is expected to complete its term without strong pressure from street protests or from within the coalition. It only needs to ensure that its economic strategy works as it waits for the next general election.