Thailand’s new prime minister rejects casino legalisation plans

• Anutin Charnvirakul becomes Thailand’s third prime minister in two years following royal endorsement on 7 September 2025
• The Bhumjaithai Party leader has consistently opposed casino legalisation and previously withdrew from the coalition over the Entertainment Complex Bill
• Thailand’s Entertainment Complex Bill was formally withdrawn from parliament in July 2025 following mounting opposition and political instability

Anutin Charnvirakul officially became Thailand’s new prime minister on 7 September 2025, marking a significant shift in the country’s gambling policy as the 58-year-old business tycoon has consistently opposed casino legalisation plans.

The Bhumjaithai Party leader received royal endorsement from King Maha Vajiralongkorn during a ceremony at his party headquarters in Bangkok, becoming Thailand’s third prime minister in two years following the dismissal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

Anutin’s ascension represents a major setback for the Shinawatra family’s casino ambitions, as he was a vocal opponent of the controversial Entertainment Complex Bill that would have legalised integrated resort casinos across Thailand.

Opposition to casino policy

The new prime minister previously served as deputy prime minister and interior minister under Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s administration but withdrew his party from the ruling coalition in July 2025 over the casino legalisation policy. Anutin claimed the casino plan had angered Chinese President Xi Jinping and caused a dramatic 90% decline in Chinese tourist arrivals.

“The casino legalisation policy has directly caused a significant drop in Chinese tourist arrivals, with numbers plummeting by up to 90%,” Anutin argued in a Facebook post, adding that the policy only benefited Chinese nationals involved in “grey businesses” and select business groups close to the government.

The Bhumjaithai Party leader warned that President Xi had issued three warnings to the Thai government to cancel the casino policy or face repercussions affecting tourism, trade and investment from China.

Entertainment complex bill withdrawn

Thailand’s controversial Entertainment Complex Bill was formally withdrawn from parliament in July 2025 following a House of Representatives vote, with 253 members supporting the withdrawal and 65 opposing. The bill had aimed to create up to five integrated resort casinos across the country, potentially generating 15,000 jobs and between 120-220 billion baht in annual tourism revenue.

The withdrawal came after mounting public opposition, with 99 academics releasing a joint statement disputing the bill’s economic benefits. A Senate committee had also identified 12 areas of concern regarding the legislation, including financial framework issues and the legal justification for site selection.

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the architect of the casino policy and father of the dismissed prime minister, had pushed aggressively for the Entertainment Complex Bill as part of his economic strategy. The bill’s failure represents a significant blow to the Shinawatra family’s political influence, which has dominated Thai politics since 2001.