The Thai government has amended the Entertainment Complex Bill to remove the 50 million baht deposit requirement for casino entry, replacing it with a three-year tax return requirement. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat confirmed this change to prevent illegal gambling, noting the low number of accounts meeting the previous criterion. Opposition groups have voiced concerns over the implications of the legislation.
The Thai government’s recent amendment to the Entertainment Complex Bill has eliminated a controversial requirement demanding that individuals show a minimum balance of 50 million baht in a fixed deposit to enter the forthcoming casino-entertainment complex. Instead of financial bling, prospective entrants will now be required to demonstrate compliance by submitting three years of income tax returns to validate their financial standing.
This revision appears in Section 65 of the draft, which is currently under consideration by the Council of State, the legal advisory body to the government. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Pichai Chunhavajira confirmed that the council had reviewed the draft and made necessary amendments, ensuring public feedback was valued in the revision process.
The adjusted legislation has already received signatures from Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnivirakul and has been dispatched to the cabinet secretariat for review as of February 28. Pichai indicated that the process of presenting the bill to the cabinet might take around two weeks, emphasizing a careful approach to the legislative procedure.
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat further affirmed that the requirement of showing 50 million baht in one’s account had been removed in favor of the three-years tax return requirement, and noted that the entrance fee for the casino would remain at 5,000 baht. He remarked, “The Ministry has checked the data and found there are only 10,000 Thai accounts with at least 50 million baht,” implying that the previous requirement could inadvertently encourage illegal gambling activities.
The revised draft bill is anticipated to be submitted to the cabinet for approval within the present parliamentary session. However, opposition continues, with several protest groups, such as the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, recently rallying in Bangkok against the legislation on the grounds that it would be detrimental to the populace and society, contradicting the principles of various religions.
In conclusion, Thailand has opted to amend its Entertainment Complex Bill, lifting the requirement for individuals to present a 50 million baht fixed deposit for casino entry. This change has shifted to a requirement of submitting three years of income tax returns. While the revisions aim to facilitate legal gambling participation, some groups continue to express dissent over potential societal impacts.
Original Source: europeangaming.eu
