Thailand Pushes for National Vote on Casino Legalization After 53,000+ Sign Petition

Civil society groups in Thailand have formally submitted a petition to the country’s Election Commission, urging the government to hold a national referendum on the legalization of casinos.

According to the Bangkok Post, the petition was signed by 53,900 Thai citizens — surpassing the legal threshold of 50,000 signatures required to trigger an official review under Thai law.

Campaign coordinator Kornkanok Makboon noted that it took approximately 120 days to gather the necessary support.

The Election Commission now has 30 days to verify the validity of the signatures. If the petition meets all legal criteria, it will be forwarded to the government for further consideration.

Thanakorn Khomkrit, head of the Stop Gambling Foundation, emphasized that a public referendum would benefit all key stakeholders — including the government, investors, and the general public. He also cautioned that moving forward with legalization without broad public backing could carry significant political risks for the ruling coalition.

Wasinee Sonsaeb, a representative of the Youth Network Against Gambling, underscored the importance of public participation in shaping Thailand’s future gambling policy. In her view, such a critical decision should not be made by Parliament alone.

Currently, most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand, with the exception of state-run horse racing and the national lottery. Despite these restrictions, the country’s underground gambling market is estimated to be worth more than $33 billion annually.