Opponents of permitting Las Vegas-style resorts in Thailand claim they possess sufficient backing through signature collection to trigger a national referendum. 

The Stop Gambling Foundation of Thailand, supported by over 200 local and national civil organizations, reports it has collected more than 53,900 petition signatures from Thai citizens opposing the Pheu Thai Party’s ongoing efforts to legalize casino slot machines and table games in the Southeast Asian country. Thailand’s National Referendum Act mandates that referendum campaigns gather a minimum of 50,000 citizen signatures. 

The Electoral Commission of Thailand will now proceed to validate the signatures. If the 50K threshold is reached, the referendum will be sent to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s Cabinet for review.

"A referendum would provide the government with a clear mandate from the people, reducing public resistance, and give investors confidence in the legal framework supporting casino developments,” said Thanakorn Khomkrit of the Stop Gambling Foundation, as reported by the Bangkok Post.

As a member of the Pheu Thai party founded by her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Shinawatra thinks Thailand needs to diversify its tourism and leisure travel sector to improve its competitiveness against the Philippines and Singapore, where integrated resort casinos are established. 

Opponents Claim Casino Legislation Rushed 

At present, the only legal gambling options in Thailand are the government-operated lottery and parimutuel wagering on horse racing. This has been true since 1935, when Thai legislators approved the Gambling Act. 

In recent years, discussions on approving new types of gambling have taken place, but the young and influential Shinawatra has prioritized passing a casino bill since taking office last August following the ousting of PM Srettha Thavisin. 

At 38 years old, Thailand's youngest prime minister also marks the second time a woman has occupied the role, succeeding her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, who served as prime minister from August 2011 to May 2014. Under Shinawatra's guidance, the Pheu Thai-led National Assembly has rapidly advanced a casino bill since she assumed office nearly a year ago. 

Critics argue that the legislative procedure has progressed at an excessively rapid pace. They are resisting Shinawatra’s remarks that Singapore utilized its casino monopoly to draw high spenders from various Asian nations, including China, which brought significant economic activity and broadened its tourism sector. She has made comparable statements regarding the Philippines, where multibillion-dollar casino resorts are located in Manila’s Entertainment City.

"Singapore spent a decade conducting thorough research and public consultation before making its decision,” said Wasinee Sonsaeb of the Youth Network Against Gambling, one of the Stop Gambling Foundation members. “To cherry-pick only the aspects of foreign models that serve one’s agenda while ignoring the rest is irresponsible.”

Despite being illegal, Thailand hosts numerous small, clandestine gambling operations that are frequently linked to other criminal activities such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and prostitution. 

Referendum Cannot Stop Legislators 

In Thailand, national referendums led by citizens are mainly utilized by the public to voice their opposition to a governmental bill or decision. 

A significant portion of the public opposes the introduction of casinos in Thailand, as the latest Pheu Thai proposal aims to permit resorts in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Shinawatra’s administration is in favor of permitting two casinos in the capital and one casino in each of the other four designated regions.