Inside Asian Gaming

IAG MAR 2022年3月 亞博匯 22 COVER STORY Sources Inside Asian Gaming spoke to, however, questioned the motives, both behind the establishment of such a committee right now and of those involved. For example, one senator closely linked to the committee is widely alleged to be the “godfather” of illegal gambling inBangkok, suggesting a clear conflict of interest. If local media reports are to be believed, this latest push for legalized casino gambling in Thailand is at least in part a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said to be concerned that illegal gambling dens had become super spreader venues. As a result, Prayut is apparently open to holding public discussions on the pros and cons of legalizing gambling despite being opposed to the idea himself. Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan also noted in January that the absence of casinos in Thailand was no deterrent to its citizens gambling. 場的綜合度假村（IR）的提案，以望吸 引更多的外國遊客並促進當地經濟發 展。 據悉，該特別委員會由60名成員 組成，其中15名是內閣代表，另外45名 來自各個政黨。據《曼谷郵報》早前報 導，該委員會將研究審查賭場博彩合法 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影響，最早能夠 於本月出台一份報告。 然而，有消息人士向《亞博匯》表 示，其對現在成立這樣一個委員會的動 機及相關人員頗有疑慮。他指出，一位 與該委員會有著密切關聯的參議員被外 界稱為曼谷非法賭博的「教父」，這無 疑存在著明顯的利益衝突。