Thailand has dropped the bill to legalise casino gambling due to the current political crisis in the country.
It comes after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended from office.
The casino bill is a major policy project for the Pheu Thai party but conceded it is ‘not the appropriate time’ to continue it, said Julapun Amornvivat, deputy finance minister.
“It’s a shame, the delay is a lost opportunity for the country,” he said.
The PM is in trouble over an ethics violation in an unrelated natter – the military standoff with Cambodia.
The casino bill aimed to offer permits for major integrated casino resorts to boost tourism revenues.
The Cabinet withdrew the bill for now as the ruling party has lost the support from coalition partners over the issue with the PM.
“It needs more studies that require further understanding and social context”, government spokesperson Jirayu Huangsab said.
