Casino bill draws chorus of dissent

>>Opposition to the Entertainment Complex bill is gathering pace with doctors, academics and schools joining anti-casino protests ahead of the House's deliberation of the bill on Wednesday.

- CHAIRITH YONPIAM

A group of 37 senior doctors from Chulalongkorn University yesterday came out against the bill, saying Thailand is still plagued with a patronage system and lax law enforcement, while corruption is also deeply entrenched. The setting was not ideal for such a big change.

"Legalising casinos and online gambling will only worsen social problems and leave people trapped in a maze of gambling, increasing crime rates, drug problems, human trafficking, money laundering and other shady businesses.

"The economy will not improve as claimed, but it [legal casinos] will be a catastrophe for the country," they said.

The group called on the government to withdraw the bill for the sake of social stability.