Business leaders agree casinos will bring revenue to Thailand, but advise caution

Meanwhile, some senior executives are urging careful consideration of the pros and cons before a decision on legalising casinos is made.

Supaluck Umpujh, chairperson of Thailand’s largest retail giants, The Mall Group, said entertainment complexes that include casinos would certainly draw more foreigners, and subsequently more revenue to the country.

“I agree 100% [with legal casinos]. If we can’t get rid of [illegal gambling dens], then legal ones should be allowed, so taxes can be properly collected,” she said.

Supaluck also said legal casinos would create more jobs and more revenue, which can then be used to fund infrastructure.

The Mall Group’s matriarch also said casinos and entertainment complexes would serve as a magnet for foreign tourists, much like casinos in Singapore. She claimed that Lee Kuan Yew, considered the founding father of modern Singapore, disliked…