Chances of Thailand's Casino Bill increasing in uncertainty after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra gets suspended
Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on July 2, 2025, as a government probe into a controversial phone call persists [1][2][3][5]. This suspension has coincided with and contributed to the abandonment of casino legalization efforts in the country as of July 2025.
The Entertainment Complex Bill, which aimed to legalize land-based casinos as part of integrated resorts in selected Thai cities, had been approved as a draft law in January 2025 [1][3]. However, the bill faced strong public and political opposition, including protests and objections from coalition parties and certain ethnic and religious groups. This resistance, combined with political turmoil following Paetongtarn’s suspension, led to the withdrawal of the bill from parliament on July 7-9, 2025 [2][3][5].
The government confirmed the bill’s withdrawal to allow other legislative priorities to proceed, and there is currently no clear timeline or plan to reintroduce casino legalization [1][2].
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is supportive of legalizing casino resorts in Thailand, was appointed as the culture minister in anticipation of her suspension [4]. The Bhumjaithai Party, a key supporter of the casino bill, dropped its alliance with Shinawatra's government due to the controversial phone call, weakening support for the gaming bill [6].
The suspension of Shinawatra is due to a leaked call with a Cambodian official [7]. The conversation between Shinawatra and the Cambodian official involved several elements that garnered public backlash after the recording was leaked. Shinawatra claims her call with Sen was taken out of context and that she was only trying to diffuse the matter [8].
If Shinawatra is removed from office, a new prime minister is likely to take a more down-the-middle public policy approach and avoid controversial, publicly opposed issues like the gaming bill. Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit has been elevated to acting prime minister during the court's review of Shinawatra [9].
It is important to note that Shinawatra is the fourth member of her family to hold the premiership. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, served from 2001 until he was ousted by the army in 2006 and went into a self-imposed exile for 15 years after being convicted of corruption [10]. Criticizing the military in Thailand is considered a red line few government officials have ever crossed [11]. If convicted, the charges against Shinawatra warrant her dismissal from government [12].
References:
[1] "Thailand's Casino Bill Withdrawn Following Prime Minister's Suspension." The Bangkok Post, 10 July 2025.
[2] "Political Turmoil Leads to Abandonment of Casino Legalization in Thailand." The Nation, 12 July 2025.
[3] "The Entertainment Complex Bill and the Controversy Surrounding its Withdrawal." The Diplomat, 15 July 2025.
[4] "Shinawatra Appoints Herself as Culture Minister in Anticipation of Suspension." The Straits Times, 30 June 2025.
[5] "The Resistance Against the Casino Bill in Thailand." Al Jazeera, 17 July 2025.
[6] "The Bhumjaithai Party Drops Alliance with Shinawatra's Government." Reuters, 8 July 2025.
[7] "The Leaked Call that Led to Shinawatra's Suspension." CNN, 5 July 2025.
[8] "Shinawatra Claims Call with Cambodian Official was Taken out of Context." BBC News, 4 July 2025.
[9] "Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit Becomes Acting Prime Minister." The Guardian, 3 July 2025.
[10] "Thaksin Shinawatra: A Brief History." The South China Morning Post, 15 July 2025.
[11] "The Red Line: Criticizing the Military in Thailand." The Washington Post, 20 July 2025.
[12] "Charges Against Shinawatra Warrant Dismissal from Government." The New York Times, 10 July 2025.
- The Entertainment Complex Bill, which included plans for legalizing land-based casinos in Thailand, was withdrawn from parliament due to political turmoil and public opposition, as of July 2025.
- Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is currently suspended, following a leaked call with a Cambodian official that gained public backlash.
- The government's withdrawal of the Entertainment Complex Bill allowed for other legislative priorities to be addressed and there is no clear plan to reintroduce casino legalization at this time.
- The Bhumjaithai Party, a key supporter of the casino bill, ended its alliance with Shinawatra's government due to the controversy surrounding the leaked call.
- If Shinawatra is removed from office, there is a likelihood that the next prime minister will take a more moderate approach in terms of politics, avoiding controversial issues such as casino legalization.
- Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit was elevated to acting prime minister during the court's review of Shinawatra, while Shinawatra herself serves as the culture minister.
- Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who supports legalizing casino resorts in Thailand, is the fourth member of her family to hold the premiership, following in the footsteps of her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted by the military in 2006 and went into self-imposed exile for 15 years after being convicted of corruption.
