Poker Now Legal in Thailand Following Government Reclassification

Thailand has taken a historic step by officially recognizing poker as a legal betting activity. As of July 29, 2025, the Sports Authority of Thailand has reclassified poker as a competitive sport, clearing the way for real-money play and regulated tournaments for the first time.

Good to know

• Players can now legally place bets on poker games they participate in.
• This is the first time a non-traditional game has been added to Thailand’s legal betting list.

The change was first reported by Thai media outlet The Standard and confirmed during a press conference hosted by the Thailand Poker Association. The association announced plans to organize the country’s first-ever legal, real-money poker tournament.

Latthasanya Piensomphan, president of the association, credited Thailand’s top poker talent as part of the reason for the policy shift. In particular, Punnat Punsri’s global success in the professional poker circuit has helped build awareness and respect for the game locally. Punsri is widely regarded as one of the world’s best poker players, and his high-profile performances may have helped influence public and political sentiment. Many fellow Thai have now joined Punsri in global poker league’s. One very popular among Thai is the Asian Poker Tour, which is currently running in Incheon, South Korea, with over a hundred Thai having traveled there to compete in the ten day poker fest.

Until now, poker has existed in a legal gray area in Thailand. While home games were common, betting was technically illegal under Thai law. With the Sports Authority now officially listing poker as a sport, betting on matches—so long as the player is participating—is now allowed.

This reclassification also makes poker the first non-traditional game to be included under Thailand’s legal betting framework. Many in the esports industry see this as a positive sign that other digital and skill-based games could soon gain similar recognition.

The Thailand Poker Association plans to roll out more events and push for the development of local poker infrastructure, training, and community engagement. With legal clarity now in place, Thai players can compete openly and potentially represent the country in international poker tournaments without legal complications.

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