Thailand deputy finance minister defends proposed casino complexes amid grey-economy concerns

Thailand’s Deputy Finance Minister Julapan Amornvivat defended the government’s proposed integrated entertainment complexes amid concerns about links to a grey economy. The plan has in-principle approval, and draft legislation is moving through parliament; the government estimates it could attract more than THB100 billion in investment. The proposal would establish a regulator within a year of approval and allow construction to begin within three years.