Thailand’s new PM rules out casino legalisation
Thailand’s new Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul (picture above), has ruled out legalising casinos while in office, shutting down expectations for the revival of the Entertainment Complex Bill, according to local media reports. The proposal, pushed by his predecessors championed by his predecessors Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, sought to develop integrated resorts with casinos to boost tourism and foreign investment.
Anutin, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, was sworn in on 8 September as Thailand’s 32nd prime minister after winning 311 votes in parliament. His election ended weeks of uncertainty following Paetongtarn’s removal by the Constitutional Court for ethics violations. The bill had already been withdrawn from the House agenda in July, but with Anutin now at the helm, the measure appears unlikely to return.
Tourism fallout from casino debate
Anutin has consistently criticised the bill, arguing that it damaged relations with China, Thailand’s largest tourism market. He claims Beijing viewed casino expansion as a threat and that Chinese arrivals fell as a result.
Nation Thailand reported a 34 percent decline in Chinese arrivals during the first half of 2025, with overall foreign visitors down 7 percent. Earlier reports said that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) cut its forecast for the year from 37 million to 33 million, compared with a pre-pandemic peak of 40 million in 2019. TAT officials, however, noted that other factors played a role in the decline, including April’s earthquake in Myanmar and northern Thailand, as well as wider global economic challenges.
Political upheaval and investor concerns
Both Srettha and Paetongtarn, members of the Pheu Thai Party, had supported the casino bill as part of their strategy to drive economic recovery.
In a Bangkok Post report, Dhanakorn Kasetrsuwan, chair of the Thai National Shippers’ Council, warned that political instability creates uncertainty for investors and consumers alike. Tourism consultants have also voiced concern.
A fragile mandate
Anutin’s appointment was enabled by support from the opposition People’s Party. Reports said that the party agreed to back him in exchange for a commitment to dissolve parliament and hold new elections within four months. This leaves him leading a minority administration with a limited mandate.
A recent poll by the National Institute of Development Administration indicated that nearly 60 percent of voters want parliament dissolved as soon as possible, underscoring public impatience with ongoing political turbulence.
Casinos off the agenda, poker under review
Although casinos are firmly off the agenda, gambling reform has not disappeared completely. Earlier this year, the Sports Authority of Thailand recognised poker as a sport, and the Ministry of Interior revoked a decades-old order banning card games from gambling permits.
Anutin has opposed these changes, making clear that he disagreed with poker’s reclassification when he was interior minister. While poker tournaments may gain traction, broader gambling legalisation is unlikely to advance under his leadership.
