BANGKOK – A recent survey has revealed that a majority of Thai people are uneasy about the government’s push to legalize entertainment complexes featuring casinos, fearing the policy could usher in a wave of vice and threaten national security. The poll, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) from March 18 to 20, surveyed 1,310 adults across the country.
The entertainment complex policy, greenlit by the cabinet in January, aims to transform Thailand into a regional tourism and entertainment hub by integrating casinos with hotels, shopping malls, and other attractions. Supporters, including Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and influential figures like her father, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, argue it’s a bold move to boost the economy and draw foreign investment. But for many Thais, the promise of prosperity comes with a steep cost.
According to the NIDA Poll, 32.6% of respondents worry that the complexes could flood society with immorality and vice, potentially destabilizing national security. Nearly as many—30.23%—doubt the economic benefits will materialize as advertised, while 28.09% want assurances the government has a plan to curb gambling addiction among locals. Concerns don’t stop there: 24.89% fear money laundering could take root, and 24.66% see the complexes as potential breeding grounds for crime.
The debate has also sparked questions about social harmony. About one in three respondents (31.83%) think the policy could ignite violent conflict, while a similar share (31.68%) predicts a less explosive but still cause a divide. Another 26.49% see it as a manageable difference of opinion, with just 9.16% dismissing the likelihood of any serious fallout.
Critics have long cautioned that casinos could deepen gambling addiction and corruption—warnings that seem to echo in the public’s unease. The government, meanwhile, is pressing ahead, drafting a royal decree to pinpoint locations and forming a committee to refine the plan. Proposals like capping casino space at 10% of each complex aim to ease fears.
As Thailand weighs its Las Vegas-style aspirations, the NIDA Poll, conducted just days ago, shows a nation at a crossroads.
