Thai Prime Minister Padongdan Sinawa has faced severe criticism for his handling of the border conflict with Cambodia, sparking a domestic political crisis and casting serious uncertainty over his push for casino legalization.
The conflict was triggered in May, when clashes broke out in a disputed border area between the two countries, resulting in the death of a Cambodian soldier and subsequently restricting bilateral transit and trade. The Royal Thai Army then ordered all Thai residents working in Cambodian casinos to return home for quarantine, suddenly escalating the situation.
On June 15, a leaked phone call pushed the controversy to a climax. In the recording, Padongdan humbly referred to former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as "Uncle" and urged ignoring "the other side of Thailand," also promising to "directly convey any requests from Hun Sen." These remarks were criticized as a loss of national dignity, infuriating the Thai People's Party, which announced its withdrawal from the ruling coalition and demanded Padongdan "be responsible for the damage to the country's reputation."
Padongdan, who narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in March, is now once again in a precarious situation. Critics call her merely a "proxy" for her father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawa, and are pushing for her resignation.
The political turmoil directly affects a major policy: casino legalization. The Padongdan government originally planned to open the first batch of entertainment resorts by 2029 to boost tourism and attract foreign investment. However, this plan has faced strong opposition from the start, not only from anti-gambling groups but also resistance from members within the ruling camp, such as some members of the Phuket Thai Party. Recently, a petition signed by over 50,000 people has been submitted to the Election Commission, calling for a national referendum on casino legislation.
Political scientist Titinan Pongsudhirak bluntly stated that Padongdan's "kowtowing to Hun Sen" has severely damaged her image as Prime Minister and national interests, believing that her downfall is only a matter of time.
Hotel and tourism industry insiders also issued warnings, believing that pushing the casino bill at this stage will cause social unrest and undermine tourism confidence. Thienprasit Chaiyapatranun, president of the Thai Hotel Association, said: "The government is already unstable, and pushing the bill will bring greater risks." He believes that if the push continues, it should at least seek public support through a referendum first.
Meanwhile, the tense border situation has also devastated Cambodia's gambling industry. In border cities like Poipet, Thai gamblers have decreased by ninety percent, and local casinos have been lowering prices to promote sales and regain popularity.
Now, what seemed like a localized border conflict has evolved into a core storm affecting regional situations, regime stability, and casino policy. Whether Thailand can still advance gambling legalization may well depend on whether Padongdan can stabilize her political fate.
