Thailand’s new PM says no casinos while he’s in office

The new prime minister of Thailand, who took office on 5 September, has doused hopes for a legal casino industry in the kingdom while he’s in charge.

Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, said on Wednesday that Thailand would have to “wait for another prime minister” if casinos are to be legalised.

PM: Tourism-focused bill hindered tourism

Anutin is a longstanding critic of the Entertainment Complex Bill advanced by his predecessors, Srettha Thavisin and Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Both Srettha and Paetongtarn were members of the Pheu Thai Party. Both served about a year before being ousted on ethics violations. On 8 July, a week after the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn, lawmakers pulled her pet bill from the parliamentary agenda.

Supporters of the casino legislation promoted it as a way to boost post-Covid tourism and draw international investment. Anutin claims it actually caused a decline in tourism from Thailand’s chief source market: China.

In February, when Paetongtarn visited Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged her to reconsider the bill, warning that casinos increase the risk of crime. Anutin claimed Xi would “implement measures to significantly reduce Chinese travel, trade and investment with Thailand” if the bill proceeded.

But the Thai government “failed to value the opinion of the Chinese leader” and rushed the bill through the House and on to parliament. “The severe consequence is the absence of about 90% of Chinese visitors, which has caused great damage to tourism-related operators.”

Nation Thailand contends Chinese arrivals dropped 34% in the first half of 2025, and they are down 7% overall so far this year. But Natthriya Thaweevong of the Tourism Authority of Thailand cited other reasons for the drop, including the deadly earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand in April, as well as global economic challenges. In any case, TAT cut its yearly forecast for foreign arrivals from 37 million to 33 million, well below the peak of 40 million who visited in 2019.

Instability in government affects all quarters

The instability at the top of Thailand’s government is causing ripples of anxiety among investors and the public at large, said Dhanakorn Kasetrsuwan, chairman of the Thai National Shippers’ Council.

“Uncertainties during a political vacuum create a wait-and-see climate for both investment and consumption,” Dhanakorn told the Bangkok Post. “If this situation persists, the economy may slow further and the country could lose the chance to attract new investments.”

Bill Barnett, managing director of Phuket-based consultancy C9Hotelworks, is troubled by the impact of the turbulence on the hospitality sector. “Three or four months ago, we were optimistic about the end of the year, but now we are not,” he told the Post. “We are losing momentum. It’s worrisome.”

And the end is not yet in sight. Within four months, Anutin must call a general election to select a new government. A survey from the National Institute of Development Administration released on Sunday showed that 59.24% of voters want parliament dissolved “as soon as possible”.