According to the Bangkok Post, the special committee established to debate the future of Thailand’s integrated resorts bill has urged the government to hold a referendum, which could become a key obstacle to the bill’s progress.

“Pushing the bill forward without holding a referendum could violate the Constitution,” the committee stated, raising concerns among stakeholders in the country.

The bill has sparked a strong reaction from opposition parties, whose representatives have warned of its potential social consequences. Opponents of casino legalisation in Thailand – many of whom sit on the committee itself – have been especially vocal.

The referendum call comes as part of a 180-day study being conducted by the committee on the Thai government’s plan to implement the Entertainment Complex Bill, which would allow the establishment of regulated land-based casinos.

At the same time, four major international operators are showing active interest in the Thai market. Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts have already held talks with the Thai government regarding infrastructure and investment.

Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings has previously cited Thailand as one of the company’s top investment priorities should the land-based casino market become legal.

These negotiations are seen as a crucial step, especially as the legal and investment framework may take months or even years to fully develop.

The first subcommittee’s primary task is to assess the potential negative societal impacts of building entertainment complexes and casinos. This includes legal, environmental, and urban planning issues, as well as the bill’s constitutional alignment, national development strategies, and the referendum process.

The second subcommittee is focused on analysing the economic implications of the bill and the legalisation of casinos in Thailand. As part of its findings, it may also examine the possibility of legalising online gambling, which is currently illegal in the country.

Interest in this topic has grown amid speculation about the potential legalisation of online casinos, driven in part by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The committees are expected to complete their work by the end of July, while the bill is scheduled to be introduced to the Thai parliament in early July. This means the subcommittees’ conclusions will be crucial in determining the bill’s future.

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