By Thai Newsroom Reporters
PRIME MINISTER SRETTHA Thavisin has reassured a casino, only if legalised in Thailand, could be a pivotal part of the government’s tourism promotion and economic recovery campaigns.
Srettha posted on his X page today (Mar. 29) to reassure the sustained, sluggish economic situation could significantly improve with sizable income from visitors and foreign tourists to a proposed entertainment complex where a casino may be legally available somewhere in the country.
The prime minister said while the casino may cover a relatively tiny space in the entertainment complex it could attract a large number of visitors and raise huge amounts of income from which taxes could be collected to help stimulate the economy and finance national development projects whilst many people could get jobs.
Nevertheless, the prime minister categorically denied the Pheu Thai-led government was merely looking to encourage the people to foster a gambling habit and squander their money at a casino and confirmed the authorities could put a legalised casino under control and effectively address personal influence associated with otherwise illegal gambling businesses.
“This is a significant approach to addressing illegal gambling dens. The government is legalising the grey business so it could be effectively put under control and subject to tax,” the prime minister said.
Srettha said a sought-after entertainment complex could practically be viewed as a mega-project which may not only feature a gaming floor or a casino but an international sports arena, a concert hall, a trade fair centre and an international convention hall, among other entertainment venues.
For instance, he said, an entertainment complex in Singapore has reportedly raised some 300 billion baht income about 20 billion baht of which has been subject to tax yearly and employed more than 20,000 people.
He confirmed legislation to open an entertainment complex of which a legalised casino will be part is yet to be put forward by the government.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Wynn casino, Las vegas. Photo: DanMSchell from Pixabay
Front Page: A neon sign at Las Vegas. Image by 15299 from Pixabay
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