The roles of two key ministers—Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior (Bhumjaithai Party), and Prasert Chantraruangthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society (Pheu Thai Party)—are under scrutiny. Observers speculate about competition between the two to lead the initiative, with potential benefits and authority at stake.
Prasert recently stated that progress is underway. The DE is collaborating with the Ministry of Interior and the Office of the Council of State to draft secondary legislation, such as ministerial regulations or royal decrees, aiming to finalize drafts within a month.
However, the Gambling Act, under the Ministry of Interior’s jurisdiction, will also need amendments to ensure alignment. Whether cooperation between the coalition parties proceeds smoothly or encounters friction due to vested interests remains uncertain and could become a political issue.
As of now, the specifics of the forms of online gambling to be legalized remain unclear. Among the most lucrative activities for illegal gambling websites are bird-shooting games, fishing games, and similar designs. These games generate substantial revenue because operators have full control over their outcomes, allowing small wins to lure players into extended losing streaks. Programmers hired to create such systems earn salaries in the millions of baht monthly, justified by the massive returns for operators.