National —
On June 10th, 2024, Mr. Wichian Kaeosombat, Assistant Director at the Center for Economic and Business Forecasting at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, along with his research team, publicly revealed the economic impact of opening casino centric entertainment complexes in Thailand.
These entertainment complexes, envisioned by the Thai government, will include a casino, a shopping mall, a five-star hotel, a restaurant and bar, a convention center, an amusement park, and other facilities.
The government plans to establish these complexes in five locations by 2033: Khlong Toei Pier in Bangkok, Bang Kachao in Samut Prakan, the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) area in Rayong but near Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.
Wichian highlighted several positive economic impacts, such as attracting foreign investment, boosting tourism revenue, creating jobs, and increasing government revenue through taxes and fees.
However, he also pointed out the potential negative impacts, including the risk of expanding the underground economy, increasing household debt, exacerbating income inequality, and the social costs associated with gambling addiction.
To mitigate these negative impacts, Wichian recommended that the Thai government implement strict laws and regulations, rehabilitate gambling addicts, and allocate revenues towards social and economic development initiatives.
Additionally, researchers from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce conducted an opinion survey on the establishment of these entertainment complexes. The survey revealed that 41.6% of respondents disagreed with the establishment proposal, 19.3% slightly agreed, and 16.4% strongly disagreed.
When asked if they would use the services at the entertainment complexes, 51.3% were strongly against visiting, 22.4% were unsure, and 10.6% were definitely interested.
Regarding the international perspective, 46.7% of respondents believed the establishment of entertainment complexes would not affect Thailand’s image, 42.6% thought it would worsen Thailand’s image, and 10.7% felt it would improve Thailand’s image.
Finally, the survey asked where the entertainment complex should be established. Results showed that 40.9% of respondents preferred Phuket, 17.3% favored Khlong Toei Pier in Bangkok, and 16.6% supported the EEC in Rayong or near Pattaya.
