Hold up—did you just hear what’s going on in Thailand? A royal scandal, military politics, and even a massive casino battle. Sounds like a plot twist from a movie, right? But guess what—it’s real. Imagine a king, some big secrets, and a game of power that’s got the world on edge. Who’s pulling the strings behind the scenes? And why is everyone talking about it? Stick around, because this is one story that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. Ready to dive into the drama?
Table of Contents
“Royal Roots, Royal Reigns”
1. In history, Thailand and Myanmar had their fair share of intense conflicts, with both countries experiencing periods of tension.
2. In the 18th century, Thailand was even occupied by Myanmar for a time.
3. But Thailand made a strong comeback and regained its independence from Myanmar.
4. The man who led that victory and became the first king of Thailand was King Rama I.
5. The royal family has been passed down through the descendants of Rama I.
6. After the passing of King Rama VIII, his son, King Rama IX, became the king at 23 years old and ruled for 65 years, earning respect for his leadership.
7. When King Rama IX passed away, his only son, King Rama X, took over the throne.
8. King Rama X officially became the king in 2016.
“Drama, Divorces, and Concubines”
9. Before ascending to the throne, King Rama X had been married three times and had seven children. After becoming king, he married a fourth time.
10. His fourth wife? A 26-year-old flight attendant from Thai Airways.
11. And that’s when things started to get interesting. King Rama X’s reign was off to a dramatic start.
12. In 1952, he made a rather bold decision by appointing 20 concubines to his court.
13. The king’s power grew even more as he decided to take control of the royal family’s finances directly, instead of leaving it to the Thai government.
14. Major companies in Thailand, like PTT, Siam Bank, and Siam Cement, owned significant shares in businesses controlled by the royal family.
15. The royal family’s wealth is staggering — owning land in Bangkok that’s 23 times the size of a major city district in the U.S.
“Living Like a King”
16. After taking control of royal finances, King Rama X started spending lavishly on his personal lifestyle.
17. When COVID-19 hit, he and his 20 concubines, 30 poodles, and 250 staff members flew to Germany.
18. He rented a lavish villa and hotel in Germany, splitting his time between there and Thailand — talk about living in style.
19. While in Germany, the king was spotted shopping with his concubines, flaunting tattoos and wearing eye-catching outfits — naturally, it made headlines around the world.
“The People Speak Up!”
20. As the world took notice, Thai citizens started voicing their concerns, making their opinions heard.
21. The younger generation launched a hashtag campaign, #whydoweneedaking, calling for the end of Thailand’s lèse-majesté law, which punishes those who insult the monarchy.
22. Under this law, making negative statements about the royal family can lead to a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
23. When the progressive Future Forward Party pushed to repeal the law, the monarchy turned to the Constitutional Court to have the party dissolved.
“Political Power Play”
24. Thailand operates under a system where the monarchy and military work together to hold the real power, while opposition parties attempt to keep them in check.
25. The parliament is made up of 250 senators and 500 members in the House of Representatives, with the military appointing all 250 senators.
26. The prime minister is chosen by a majority of the 750 members from both houses.
27. Since the military controls the senate, they have a strong advantage in this process.
“Election Drama: A Shift in Power“
28. Thailand held its general election on May 14, 2023.
29. Former members of the Future Forward Party, which was disbanded for advocating the repeal of the lèse-majesté law, joined the Action Coalition Party and entered the election.
30. The Action Coalition Party became the largest party, securing 152 seats out of 500, while the military-backed parties won only 101 seats.
31. The Action Coalition Party dominated in Bangkok, winning 31 out of 31 seats, with overwhelming support from younger voters in their 20s and 30s.
“Rise of the People”
32. This was similar to a progressive party in the U.S. suddenly becoming the largest party in Congress.
33. Phitha Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Action Coalition Party, saw a significant rise in personal popularity.
34. In Thailand, family background, education, and personal qualities are highly valued.
35. Phitha, born in 1980, checks all the boxes: young, charismatic, with a Harvard and MIT education, and a prestigious family background.
“The Military Pushback”
36. While the Action Coalition Party became the largest with 152 seats, they needed 375 seats to secure the premiership, so they started negotiating with other parties.
37. In the first vote for prime minister, Phitha Limjaroenrat received 324 votes but failed to secure the 375 needed.
38. The 250 military-appointed senators voted against him, as did two military-backed parties.
39. The military made it clear that they couldn’t support Phitha because he wanted to change the lèse-majesté law.
“The Military’s Grip on Power”
40. The military’s resistance to Phitha isn’t about loyalty to the royal family, but about maintaining a law that serves their interests as well.
41. The military has long maintained that “the monarchy = the state = the military,” and they’ve used the lèse-majesté law to silence opposition.
42. Thailand’s Constitutional Court judges are appointed by the Senate.
43. Since the military controls the Senate, they effectively control the appointments to the Constitutional Court.
“The Fallout: A Royal and Military Struggle”
44. The Constitutional Court ruled that the Action Coalition Party’s proposal to amend the lèse-majesté law was an effort to alter the monarchy-led democratic framework.
45. The ruling didn’t just target Phitha — it dissolved the entire Action Coalition Party.
46. The largest party, with 152 seats, was dissolved by the Constitutional Court.
47. The second-largest party, Pheu Thai, with 141 seats, took the lead and was able to nominate a new prime minister.
48. The new candidate from Pheu Thai is Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the 38-year-old daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
49. Paetongtarn represents the fourth prime minister in her family, following her father Thaksin, her uncle, and her aunt.
50. Paetongtarn joined Pheu Thai in 2021, quickly rose to leader within six months, and became the prime minister in 2024.
51. While Thailand has the Shinawatra family, Cambodia has the Hun Sen family.
52. Hun Sen ruled Cambodia for 38 years and, in 2023, appointed his son as prime minister, another son as head of intelligence, and his third son as deputy prime minister.
53. Thaksin and Hun Sen have been close friends for over 30 years, maintaining strong ties.
54. However, in June 2025, Hun Sen cut ties with the Shinawatra family.
55. This break came after Hun Sen leaked a phone conversation where Paetongtarn criticized the military, sharing it with 80 people.
56. Paetongtarn, unaware the conversation was recorded, referred to Hun Sen as “Uncle” and criticized the military.
57. Hun Sen defended the leak, saying it exposed how the Thai prime minister had done “ugly things” in her country.
58. Paetongtarn was suspended from her duties as prime minister on July 1, and her deputy assumed her role.
59. Despite her suspension, Paetongtarn continued to hold significant influence as Minister of Culture.
The Casino War: Thailand vs. Cambodia
60. The break between the Shinawatra family and the Hun Sen family can be traced back to a power struggle over casinos.
61. The Chinese government started tightening regulations on Macau’s casinos, leading to a decline in business there.
62. Chinese President Xi Jinping encouraged Macau to diversify away from casinos, which led to stricter controls.
63. With facial recognition technology being installed at all Macau casinos, mainland Chinese visitors decreased.
64. Other countries began efforts to attract Macau’s casino customers, including Japan and South Korea.
65. Japan, for example, expanded its casino sector and developed integrated resorts to capture some of the revenue that Macau’s casinos were losing.
66. South Korea also pushed to expand its own gambling and entertainment offerings, such as developing luxury casino resorts on Jeju Island, hoping to lure high-roller tourists away from Macau.
67. Cambodia also had high hopes of benefiting from Macau’s regulatory challenges, expecting to gain from the shifting casino traffic.
68. Cambodia has 87 casinos, and a significant portion of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s political funds come from the gambling industry.
69. In January 2025, Paetongtarn pushed through a bill allowing casinos in Thailand.
70. If casinos are legalized in Thailand, Cambodia’s gambling industry could take a huge hit.
71. Cambodia’s casinos rely heavily on Thai visitors, so Thailand opening its own casinos would create fierce competition.
72. Cambodia would struggle to compete, as Thailand’s tourism infrastructure is far more developed.
“The Gamble: Thailand and Cambodia’s Casino Battle”
73. Hun Sen’s decision to leak Paetongtarn’s private conversation had a lot to do with casino interests.
74. Paetongtarn knew the stakes.
75. Even after her suspension, Paetongtarn maintained control, taking steps to limit Cambodian tourists.
76. While business and medical travel to Cambodia remained allowed, tourism was shut down.
77. This was an effort to prevent Thai citizens from going to Cambodia for illegal gambling.
78. Thai nationals were responsible for nearly half of Cambodia’s casino revenue, so this move was a significant blow to Cambodia’s gambling industry.
79. The Shinawatra family was enraged by Hun Sen’s actions, and the fallout between the two families may continue.
80. Hun Sen, in a TV address, said, “I hope a new prime minister will emerge in Thailand,” continuing his attack on the Shinawatra family.
81. And so, the political drama continues…
Thailand’s Casino Bill on Pause, But the Real Action is Just Starting!
So, Thailand’s big casino resort bill? It’s been put on hold for now. But don’t be misled—the stakes are far from over. While the legal battle pauses, the real action is unfolding behind the scenes between two powerful families, with international eyes watching closely. Japan, South Korea, and neighboring countries are already positioning themselves to capitalize on Asia’s rapidly growing casino market, but here’s the catch: the longer the family conflict drags on, the more the casino giants stand to gain. It’s not just about who wins this political battle; it’s about who can outlast the other. The question is—who’s playing the long game, and who’s simply in it for the quick win? The drama’s just heating up, and this power play is far from over.
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