Casino bill to require 50m baht bank balance for Thai entry
The Entertainment Complex Bill, set for revision, is anticipated to be submitted for Cabinet approval next week, according to PM’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil. The bill has been prioritised as an urgent policy, following discussions with the Interior Ministry and the Finance Ministry, with aims to expedite its legislative process.
The bill includes a condition requiring Thai citizens to maintain at least 50 million baht in their bank accounts for a minimum of six months before they are allowed entry into a casino-entertainment complex. This stipulation had been previously removed in favour of a requirement for Thais to provide three years of tax returns but has been reinstated on the advice of the Council of State, as confirmed by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat.
Julapun acknowledged the parliamentary authority to amend the bill upon its presentation. He had earlier opposed the substantial bank balance clause, arguing it inadequately addresses the issue of Thais travelling abroad for gambling. Noting that only 10,000 people in Thailand meet the 50-million-baht requirement, he suggested an alternative: that Thais should have paid income tax to the Revenue Department for three consecutive years and pay an entry fee of 5,000 baht.
Kiatanantha Lounkaew, an economics lecturer at Thammasat University, expressed support for the 50-million-baht bank balance requirement, suggesting it would limit venue visitors and mitigate potential social issues. However, he noted that this requirement might not support local businesses and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) near the casino-entertainment complexes, reported Bangkok Post.
Angry protesters stormed the Finance Ministry on Thursday, March 6, demanding the government scrap its controversial casino legalisation plan.
Led by three hardline groups, demonstrators accused Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat of supporting a bill they claim will encourage Thai gambling rather than attract foreign tourists.
The Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, the Dharma Army, and the Centre of People for Monarchy Protection have been camped outside Government House since Sunday, vowing to fight the bill. With no government response, they escalated their protest, taking their demands directly to the ministry spearheading the legislation.
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