BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday withdrew a draft law for casinos and entertainment complexes, citing the need for more time to engage with the public and create more understanding about the issue.
The government earlier set its sights on building a major gaming industry that will complement tourism, a key economic driver for the country, with a draft bill to legalise gambling slated to be deliberated on by parliament on Wednesday.
But the suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from duty by the Constitutional Court last week, and the desertion of the Bhumjaithai Party from its coalition last month, left the government holding on to a slim majority in parliament, making the passage of the bill risky.
“The draft bill in question involves issues that require time for public understanding,” government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It is therefore appropriate to withdraw this draft bill from parliament’s deliberation,” he said without indicating when the draft bill will be reconsidered by the cabinet.
Gambling is mostly banned in Thailand, apart from the lottery, state-controlled horse racing and some other sports.
But successive governments have been pressing the case to build casinos that will attract more foreign visitors and create jobs and state revenue.
The ruling Pheu Thai party initially hoped to attract at least 100 billion baht ($3 billion) in new investment in casinos and entertainment complexes, and expected foreign tourist arrivals to rise by up to 10%.
The plan however faced some opposition, with a January opinion poll showing public disapproval. Some political parties have also argued that building a gambling industry would worsen social problems.
(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um, Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by David Stanway)
