The Thai cabinet has granted initial approval for a draft bill to establish an “integrated entertainment complex,” as proposed by the Finance Ministry. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the decision, stating the project aims to attract investment, address illegal gambling, and promote sustainable tourism with a focus on societal benefits.
The Council of State, the government’s legal advisory body, will now review the bill’s details. This includes forming a regulatory commission and defining clear guidelines for businesses permitted within the complex. The council has previously raised six concerns about the draft, including the need for the Finance Ministry to clarify the complex’s scope and whether it should encompass hotels, restaurants, or other establishments already regulated by existing laws.
The council also highlighted the public’s perception of an entertainment complex as a space offering diverse amusements rather than gambling. Should the government intend to include a casino, the council recommended revising outdated gambling laws instead of integrating it into the entertainment complex legislation.
Additionally, the cabinet approved a draft for a European Union Free Trade Agreement (EFTA), which is slated to be signed during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week.
