Royal Turf Club unveils Royal Siam Haven entertainment complex project

The Royal Turf Club of Thailand under the Royal Patronage unveiled the Royal Siam Haven mixed-use entertainment complex project at its annual general meeting on August 24, 2024, held at the Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon on Phitsanulok Road in Bangkok's Dusit district¹. The club, known for operating the former Nang Loeng racecourse, said the project carries investment of more than THB 200,000 million¹.

The club signed a memorandum of understanding with a private partner, Royal Sport Complex Co Ltd (RSC), to develop the project¹. Club board member Pathawee Surin said the MOU with an investor group was already signed, and that the site would not be disclosed because it is very large⁴. The Standard reported the investment at THB 150,000 to 200,000 million², while Money & Banking put it at nearly THB 200,000 million⁷. Thairath reported the project would cover 2,353 rai along the Chao Phraya River²; Thai Wikipedia said the plan covered about 1,000 rai in Nong Chok district and about 2,000 rai in Lat Krabang district¹.

The club described the project as an entertainment complex including:

• a new international-standard racecourse¹
• a six-star hotel¹
• a golf course¹
• a yacht club¹
• restaurants¹
• a theater¹
• a hospital¹
• wellness tourism¹
• a learning center¹
• sports and entertainment activities¹

Thairath listed a world-class casino, a boxing stadium, condominiums, houses, a shopping center and duty-free space among the components². Thairath reported the club had signed an MOU with K Global, described as a major racecourse operator in South Korea, for horse business development, and that it would propose a casino as part of the complex once casino legislation is complete².

What it means for players

Thailand has no legal casino at present, and the sources describe the casino element as something the club would seek to add later, once gambling legislation is settled². The club says it continues to handle race management only and is not involved in other businesses⁸. No operating casino, license, opening date or betting product for the project has been reported.

What happens next

The club said construction would take no more than two years, and that horses aged three to four would then be able to race⁶. It said the construction location in Bangkok would be announced again later⁸. The project depends on the draft Entertainment Complex bill; the club said other licenses would be sought if that bill passes⁸. Separately, 99 academics signed a statement opposing entertainment complexes and called for a referendum on the issue⁶.

For background on the sport and the venues involved, see horse racing and betting in Asia and race grades explained. For the current legal position, see can I gamble in Thailand.