PUBLISHED: 13 Mar 2025 at 20: 40
The unique commission overseeing the leisure complex initiative has announced that Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Phuket will be the first four places, amid public censure.
Nikom Boonwiset, the vice-chairman of the unique commission, said on Thursday that the screen is first eyeing four main tourist provinces— Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.
Mr Nikom, an MP of the decision Pheu Thai Party, noted that the 500-billion-baht project is expected to get at least 50 million visitors annually and make at least 40, 000 employment positions, which will help make huge income for Thailand and improve the country’s economic growth.
Many foreign investors have already shown involvement in investing in the job, Mr Nikom said.
According to him, each complex will have a five-star resort, a world-class shopping mall, an amusement park, a sports industry, a convention hall and a large museum heart, with less than 10 % of the room being allocated for a game. However, Mr Nikom said those who oppose the project have led the public to think that the entertainment complexes are focused solely on the casino aspect due to prejudice and bias against the government.
The Entertainment Complex Bill was originally scheduled to be presented at the cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
However, the presentation had to be postponed because the Ministry of Finance is currently receiving public feedback through its website until Friday.
According to a source, there were growing concerns from protest groups who submitted letters of objection to Government House.
Therefore, the ministry was expected to revise the draft and send it back to the cabinet after considering public opinion.
Meanwhile, Thanakorn Khomkrit, the secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, has criticised the current version of the Entertainment Complex Bill for containing loopholes and lacking tight measures to prevent young people who gamble from developing a gambling habit.
Mr Thanakorn said that the foundation has found that the bill contains ambiguity in terms of regulations and lacks clear stipulations on the number of casino facilities, the size and proportion of gambling spaces and frameworks on licence fees and tax rates.
He added that the latest version of the bill allows the casino licensee to arrange for other businesses to facilitate those entering a casino.
The anti-gambling foundation is concerned about whether the current definition of “other businesses” may lead to a loophole for money laundering through a brokerage company, aka the junket service.
Thanakorn: More curbs for youths