Panel touts a casino for each region

Thailand could accommodate five casinos — one in each of its five regions — according to the House committee studying the feasibility of opening such entertainment complexes.

Ideas for the legalisation of casinos to earn revenue, collect taxes from the complexes, as well as curb illegal casinos, slot machines and online gambling were discussed in parliament yesterday.

Pichet Chuamuangphan, second deputy chairman of the House committee, said the feasibility study will take a year and is based on business models of many countries including Singapore and Malaysia.

The primary aim of having entertainment complexes in Thailand is to create jobs, attract foreign visitors and bring additional revenue to the country, he said.

A plan to operate one casino in each of the country’s five regions will be submitted to the government, he said.

In the North, the location could…