On the 8th, Thai government spokesperson Chaiyarut revealed to the media that the cabinet meeting held that day had approved the Ministry of Finance's proposal, agreeing to withdraw the revised draft of the 'Integrated Entertainment Venue Act' from the parliamentary review agenda.
He stated that, as there are differing opinions on this issue among various sectors of society, more time is needed for communication and clarification in order to promote the policy and achieve broader understanding and support.
The draft previously submitted by the Thai Ministry of Finance mainly allowed the establishment of ‘integrated entertainment’ businesses, including the legalization of casinos, and the establishment of a regulatory mechanism for oversight. The draft also stipulated the approval standards for business licenses, as well as regulatory measures for the operation of integrated entertainment businesses, to ensure they comply with standards and are socially appropriate.
Subsequently, the Thai Law Committee completed a constitutional review of the draft and made clearer and more substantial amendments to some contents. On March 31, the House Coordinating Committee of the Thai Parliament offered its review recommendations. On April 1, the cabinet accepted the recommendations and submitted the draft to the lower house of parliament, preparing to include it in the review agenda.
Because the revised draft of the 'Integrated Entertainment Venue Act' involves the issue of establishing legalized casinos, it sparked controversy in both political and social circles. After the new cabinet took office on July 1, the Ministry of Finance proposed to withdraw the draft from the legislative procedure, and this proposal was approved at the cabinet meeting on the 8th.