An extraordinary committee of the Thailand House of Representatives has been looking into the legalization of casinos in the country. It will submit its findings in May.
The committee of 60 government members including cabinet officials was empaneled by the House in December to investigate the potential for economic development of an integrated resort (IR) with a casino. The capital city of Bangkok is considered the top candidate for such a resort. Other candidates include Pattaya and Phuket, reported the Bangkok Post.
The chairman of the committee is Deputy Transport Minister Atirat Ratanasate. Another task of the committee is to study what would be required to launch such a project and generate money for the government.
Recently Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Rob Goldstein told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that his company has been in talks with a “major country” in Asia to develop an IR. Many observers have jumped to the conclusion that he was talking about Thailand.
Thailand has long had a strong antipathy towards gaming. It is one three Asian countries—Indonesia and Brunei are the others— without legal gaming. Its late king was very much opposed to casinos. However, the new king is more open to the economic development potential of casinos.
The most likely scenario for an IR is one in which casinos would only be open to foreign tourists, and not local residents. Or that locals would be charged an entry fee and be able to provide information on their financial solvency.
