The Thai cabinet has deferred deliberation on the proposed casino-entertainment complex bill, citing the need for further public consultation.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated that the government prioritized gathering public opinions before advancing the legislation, emphasizing the necessity of digesting various viewpoints and dissent before proceeding.

This decision marks a significant shift from previous indications of urgency surrounding the bill's enactment.

As a part of the legislative process, the Ministry of Finance is conducting a public hearing on the casino bill, which is expected to conclude by Friday.

This postponement follows assurances from Prime Minister's Office Minister Chousak Sirinil, who had characterized the bill as an urgent matter just days prior.

The Prime Minister highlighted that a crucial aspect of the legislation—that Thai citizens must demonstrate a minimum of 50 million baht in their bank accounts for six months before entering the casino complexes—will undergo additional review.

The minimum savings requirement, she noted, is under discussion and does not appear to be subject to immediate change.

Pakorn Nilpraphun, the secretary-general of the Council of State, mentioned that the council completed its examination of the bill and has returned it to the Cabinet Secretariat Office for a final review.

He asserted that the council acted independently in its evaluation, dismissing suggestions of political interference in the vetting process.

In related developments, a concurrent proposal to amend the Gambling Act to permit specific forms of online gambling is also undergoing consultation.

This draft, once finalized, will be sent to the cabinet along with insights from relevant agencies for further consideration.

On the same day, protest groups, including those led by former red-shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan, demonstrated outside Government House, voicing their opposition to both the casino-entertainment complex bill and the amendments to the Gambling Act.