Reform council chairman dismisses casino proposal

Thailand’s National Reform Council chairman has dismissed a controversial proposal by some NRC members to legalize casinos in the country’s party town of Pattaya, the Bangkok Post reported.

Thienchay Kiranandana said the call has not come from the agency and that the proposal is just a fanciful idea has not been submitted to the council.

"Calls to legalize casinos are not among the reform proposals we have put up," he said. 

The chairman’s comments follow a report in The Nation citing Major Watcharothai and Kriangkrai Phumlaochaeng as saying the casino-revival plan was backed by a dozen NRC members, including themselves, and that the beach resort of Pattaya would be a good spot for casino projects.

Arnun told reporters at parliament that legalizing domestic casinos would stop money flowing into neighboring countries such as Cambodia where its border with Thailand has a thriving casino industry.

According to the The Bangkok Post, Former Democrat MP Watchara Phetthong criticized the  proposal as a quick fix to boosting the economy with immoral activities. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he is not taking a stance on the issue for the moment.

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