PM Anutin Charnvirakul has repeatedly expressed his opposition to the plans
Thailand’s path toward casino legalization appears to have come to a halt with the appointment of Anutin Charnvirakul as the country’s new Prime Minister. The 59-year-old leader of the Bhumjaithai Party was elected on September 5 after securing 311 votes in parliament, comfortably surpassing the 247 needed. His victory ended weeks of uncertainty following the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was removed from office by the Constitutional Court over ethics violations.
Anutin’s rise to power is significant for Thailand’s gambling debate. Known for his opposition to casino legislation, he has consistently pushed back against the Entertainment Complex bill introduced under Shinawatra’s administration.
That proposal aimed to establish integrated resorts with casinos, modeled on destinations like Macau or Singapore. Anutin argued that the plan risked damaging Thailand’s reputation and even discouraged tourism, particularly from China. His lobbying efforts were pivotal in having the bill withdrawn from parliamentary discussion in July.
Industry observers see his leadership as a death blow to casino plans, at least in the short term. Daniel Cheng, a former casino executive, described the bill as effectively shelved, saying investors should not expect progress until at least after the next general elections.
With support from the opposition People’s Party—who made their backing conditional on dissolving parliament within four months—Anutin’s government is expected to be short-lived, but his stance leaves little room for gambling reforms in the interim.
Cheng further noted that unless economic pressures or influential figures revive the discussion, casino legalization is unlikely before 2030. He suggested that any future attempt would require bipartisan cooperation and perhaps even a national referendum, given the contentious nature of the issue.
For now, Thailand’s gaming policy has returned to a hardline position. While online and underground gambling remain widespread, the vision of legal casino resorts looks to be off the table under Anutin’s leadership.
