BANGKOK, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's cabinet on Thursday approved a draft law to legalize casinos within entertainment complexes to attract large-scale investments and enhance the Southeast Asian country's vital tourism industry.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the proposed law would allow casinos to occupy up to only 10 percent of specially designated entertainment complexes, while the remaining would be allocated for other attractions, such as hotels, restaurants, concert venues, sports stadiums, and amusement parks.
This initiative could boost the kingdom's annual tourist arrivals by 5 percent to 10 percent, translating to an increase of up to 230 billion baht (about 6.79 billion U.S. dollars) in tourism revenue, Paetongtarn told a news conference.
She noted that legislation will include strict regulations and legal safeguards aimed at preventing underage gambling and curbing addiction.
The draft law will now move forward to parliament for deliberation and will also need approval from the Senate before receiving royal endorsement. ■
