Thailand’s plan to legalise casinos opposed by most citizens: poll

Many Thais also objected to the government’s plan to legalise online gambling, according to the poll by Nida

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Thailand is pushing ahead with its casino plans. Photo: Kevin Wong

Published: 2:56pm, 26 Jan 2025

Many Thais still disapprove of the government’s plan to allow investments in casinos and the legalisation of online gambling as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sought to assure citizens the initiative would bring economic benefits.

About 59 per cent of respondents said they disagreed with investments in both casinos and so-called entertainment complexes in Thailand, according to the January 20-21 survey by the National Institute of Development Administration, also known as Nida.

About 29 per cent said they agreed with both casinos and the large venues they would be housed in, while the rest preferred only having one of the two, the survey published on Sunday showed. The nationwide poll of 1,310 Thais aged 18 and above has a margin of error of 3 per cent, Nida said.

About 69 per cent of respondents also disagreed with the government’s plan to legalise online gambling to support casinos, while the rest were in agreement, the poll showed.

Opposition has been growing among Thais as the government pushes ahead with the initiative. Last week, a group of Thais attending a provincial election campaign rally in northeastern Si Sa Ket paraded banners saying casinos and online gambling would harm future generations.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has said the government’s plan to legalise casinos will help boost economic growth. Photo: EPA-EFE

In response, Paetongtarn said on Saturday entertainment complexes would be the nation’s new “man-made tourist destination”, and they would help create jobs and generate new income to help boost economic growth.