Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAN 2022年1月 亞博匯 16 THAILAND TO LAUNCH STUDY INTO POTENTIAL IR DEVELOPMENT 泰國計劃成立議會委員會研究IR發展潛力 THETHAI PARLIAMENT is set to launch a study into the possible introduction of casino gaming after MPs almost unanimously voted in favor of examining the proposal. According to The Bangkok Post , the House of Representatives has voted to set up an extraordinary committee that will examine a proposal to open an integrated resort with a casino, with the goal of attracting more foreign visitation and boosting the local economy. It is not yet known how many casino-resorts could be legislated for should such a scenario eventuate or where they would be located. While the prospects for casino gaming have long been touted in Thailand, it has largely been considered a distant dream at best and was strongly opposed by the nation’s former King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away in 2016. However, the issue has gained some momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha suggesting in January 2021 that he would consider the controversial measure in a bid to curb a growing number of illegal gambling dens. The extraordinary committee will comprise 60 members of which 15 will be cabinet representatives and the other 45 from various political parties. The Bangkok Post reports the study, which will examine the legal amendments required to legalize casino gaming as well as the social and economic impact of IRs in other jurisdictions, could be complete within just 90 days. Thailand is considered one of the few great untapped opportunities for casino gaming in Asia. 在泰國國會 議員幾乎一致投票支持引入博彩 後，泰國議會將啟動一項有關可能引入博彩的 調查。 根據《The Bangkok Post》，泰國眾議 院已經投票決定成立一個特別委員會，負責審 查一項是否開設一間帶賭場的綜合度假村的提 案，目的是吸引更多外國遊客並促進當地經濟 發展。目前尚不清楚如若此種情況發生，將會 允許設立多少賭場度假村及他們將位於何處。 儘管開賭的前景在泰國長久以來反復被提 及，但很大程度上被認為不大可能，且曾遭受 2016年去世的泰國前國王普密蓬·阿杜德的強 烈反對。 然而在新冠疫情肆虐期間，這一問題得到 部分推動。總理帕拉育曾在1月表示，有意考 慮這一有爭議措施，以遏制日益增多的非法賭 場。 特別委員會將由60名成員組成，其中15 名為內閣代表，45名來自其他各個政黨。據 《Bangkok Post》報道，這項研究或在90天 內完成。該研究將審查賭場博彩合法化所需的 法律修正案，以及IR在其他司法管轄區的社會 及經濟的影響。 泰國被認為是亞洲少數幾個尚未開發的博 彩藍海市場。