Bangkok: "Anutin" reveals that the draft amendment to the Gambling Act has not yet been submitted to the Cabinet, as it awaits opinions from multiple agencies. Regarding the legalization of "online gambling," the crystallization of ideas is still pending. The "Ministry of Interior - DE" assures that there is no issue with the host, as the matter must go through the committee in any case, expecting it won't take long.
According to Thai News Agency, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul disclosed that the draft amendment to the Gambling Act, which proposes increased penalties for gamblers and organizers, was not presented at the cabinet meeting today. The delay is attributed to the incomplete responses from a circulated request sent to various agencies and ministries.
Later, Mr. Anutin, alongside Mr. Prasert Chantarawongthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, spoke after signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation, adaptation, and climate change at Santi Maitri Building. They discussed the progress of the online gambling secondary law, with Mr. Prasert noting that the gambling law of the Ministry of Interior is in the opinion-gathering phase.
The drafting of the online gambling law by the Ministry of Digital Affairs is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Digital Affairs, with no final conclusions reached yet, but progress is expected soon. When questioned about the timeline for presenting it to the Cabinet, Mr. Prasert indicated that they are still awaiting a consensus from various agencies.
Mr. Prasert responded to inquiries about the cooperation between the Ministry of Digital Affairs and the Ministry of Interior by stating that the process is not entirely smooth. On the question of authority over online gambling, Mr. Anutin clarified that the power dynamics would eventually be resolved by the committee, with the Ministry of Digital Affairs focusing on technology and the Ministry of Interior on law enforcement and gambling oversight.
When asked about the readiness of the two laws, Mr. Prasert explained that one is an Act and the other a secondary law. The Act requires parliamentary approval and may take longer, while the secondary law, not needing parliamentary approval, should be expedited. Although he refrained from naming the secondary law, he mentioned its relation to online matters and its submission to the cabinet meeting on January 13. The collaborative efforts are ongoing, with completion anticipated soon.