A study proposing the legalization of casinos in Thailand was submitted to the House of Representatives on Friday, March 15, by a 60-member committee of government and opposition lawmakers1. The study includes a draft law on the casino idea, which would need parliamentary approval before going to the cabinet for consideration1.
Under the proposals, private companies would shoulder the cost of construction and operation of entertainment complexes comprising casinos, while the government would be responsible for taxing and regulation, according to Sorawong Thienthong, vice chairman of the parliamentary committee1. He said an estimated minimum investment for a large complex would be 100 billion baht (US$2.79 billion)1. No number of entertainment complexes or their locations are specified, but the committee recommended that a complex should be in a main tourist destination and within 100 kilometers (60 miles) of an airport1.
The only gambling allowed in Thailand is on state-controlled horse races and the lottery, but at least 10% of Thais are addicted to gambling, the study said1. Legalization has been discussed before but no government has gone ahead due to public opposition. In a 2021 opinion poll, 46.51% opposed legalized gambling due to moral and crime concerns, while 21.25% were supportive1. The previous parliament approved a similar study last year but the house was dissolved before the cabinet could consider it1.
"We want to conclude the law and start selling licenses to investors within this government,"
Many in the industry believe a legal casino market in Thailand would draw overseas visitors and provide strong competition for Macau, described as the world's biggest gambling hub and the only place in China where citizens can legally gamble in casinos1.
What it means for players
Nothing changes yet. Casinos remain illegal in Thailand, and the only permitted gambling is on state-controlled horse races and the lottery1. The study is a proposal, not a law, and it still needs parliamentary approval before it can go to the cabinet1. Until any law passes, the practical position for locals, expats and visitors is unchanged: casino gambling in Thailand is not legal, and the study does not set out licensing rules, entry conditions or which locations would host complexes1. The committee's recommendation that a complex sit in a main tourist destination within 100 kilometers of an airport is a planning guideline in the study, not a decision on any venue1.
What happens next
Sorawong said the study could be considered for parliament approval on March 281. If approved, the draft law included in the study would be forwarded to the cabinet for consideration1. No timeline beyond that has been reported, and no locations or number of complexes have been specified1.
For more on the current rules, see Can I Gamble in Thailand?, Casinos in Thailand: Who Can Go In and Can Foreigners Gamble in Thailand?. For how Thailand's rules compare with its neighbors, see Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions, Can I Gamble in Macau? and Can I Gamble in China?.
