Thailand’s cabinet has given the green light to a draft law that would pave the way for casinos and entertainment complexes in the country. The government aims to attract more tourists and create a thriving gaming industry, but strict regulations will limit access for Thai nationals.
According to the Bangkok Post, the approved draft includes a 5,000-baht entry fee for locals and a requirement to show at least 50 million baht in bank deposits. This effectively restricts access for a large portion of the population. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat previously suggested the financial requirement might be removed, as it would exclude too many people, but the government decided to move forward with the draft as is. Any changes could be made later during the legislative process.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra clarified that the draft law is not final and will need to go through further legislative steps. The bill will be sent to the House of Representatives for approval, followed by a review by the Senate and then final endorsement from His Majesty the King.
One of the key restrictions in the proposal is that casino operations can only occupy up to 10% of the total area of an entertainment complex. Currently, most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand, with exceptions for state-controlled horse racing, the national lottery, and limited sports betting. However, multiple governments have considered legalizing casinos as a way to bring in foreign investment and increase state revenue.
A Citi report published last year estimated that nearly half of all Thais aged 20 and older could be potential casino patrons. If the industry takes off, Thailand has the potential to become the third-largest gambling hub in the world. The government is targeting at least 100 billion baht in new investments in casinos and entertainment centers. Officials also expect a 5% to 10% rise in annual foreign tourist arrivals and tax revenues of over 12 billion baht per year.
In Southeast Asia, some countries have successfully legalized casinos, but only a select few—like Singapore—have managed to attract top-tier operators such as Las Vegas Sands, mainly due to their well-regulated environments.
The Ministry of Finance recently conducted an online public hearing on the issue, where 80% of respondents expressed support for the casino bill, according to Bloomberg. Over 70,000 people participated in the consultation process between February 28 and March 14, submitting opinions and recommendations. Despite this, a separate public opinion poll suggested that many people remain concerned about the potential downsides of legalized gambling.
The proposal has also drawn criticism from the opposition People’s Party, which warned that legalizing casinos could harm Thailand’s tourism sector if China discourages its citizens from visiting due to the gambling laws.
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