Songklanagarind Hospital, a medical and research institute in Thailand’s Songkhla province, has joined the opposition to the draft entertainment complex bill, calling for the government to reconsider.
“As part of its accountability to national healthcare, the hospital is urging the government to reconsider the bill comprehensively,” read the statement.
It cited several medical journals, which report that access to legal gambling can lead to “gambling disorder”, a mental illness that can be precursors to other health problems and social issues, such as depression, stress, drug addiction and domestic violence.
The hospital also highlighted the potentially negative impacts on morality and religion, increasing the likelihood of crime, money laundering and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
The hospital claims that the tax revenue from the entertainment complex would not outweigh the social costs to the country.
Today, the government further delayed parliament’s consideration of the bill, commonly known as the ‘casino bill,’ which had been scheduled for tomorrow, citing other more urgent issues that needed to be addressed.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra emphasised, however, that the bill is simply delayed not withdrawn.
