Thailand's new government will move ahead with plans to introduce its first official casinos, a senior official said on Thursday, after an online public hearing on a bill to establish a "mega entertainment complex" housing a casino showed 80% of participants agreed with the plan1. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat gave the figure and said the bill would be adjusted before going to cabinet1.
The push follows a change of leadership. Paetongtarn Shinawatra was sworn in as prime minister last month, replacing her ally Srettha Thavisin, who was the main proponent of the latest casino push but was removed from office by a court decision last month1. Her father, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, is widely seen as a major force behind her government and backed the casino plan in a dinner speech last month, noting potential benefits from regulating and taxing online gambling and formalizing the larger underground economy1.
"We will now adjust the bill based on the feedback, discuss this with our coalition partners before sending it cabinet for approval"
Casinos and most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand, though soccer betting, underground gaming activities and lotteries are described as rife, with vast sums of money changing hands1. Only some gambling is permitted, such as state-controlled horse races and an official lottery1. The bill is centered on a broader entertainment complex, but its passage would effectively legalize casinos1. Several Thai governments have pushed to legalize gambling before to boost jobs, state revenues and foreign tourism, and each attempt met pushback from conservatives in the Buddhist majority country1.
In Southeast Asia, Cambodia, Singapore, Myanmar and the Philippines have legalized casinos, some located across Thailand's borders and catering overwhelmingly to Thai and Chinese customers, many on weekend junkets1. Paetongtarn's ruling Pheu Thai Party has argued Thailand has fallen behind its neighbors in the gaming industry1.
What it means for players
Nothing changes yet. Casinos and most forms of gambling remain illegal in Thailand, and the permitted exceptions are state-controlled horse races and the official lottery1. The bill under discussion covers a single "mega entertainment complex" and has not passed; its passage would effectively legalize casinos1. Until then, the legal position for locals, expats and visitors is unchanged, and the sources do not describe any new licensing, entry rules, taxes or player protections. The sources also do not say where a complex would be built, when it would open, or how many licenses would be issued; those details have not been reported.
What happens next
Julapun said the bill will be adjusted based on hearing feedback, discussed with coalition partners, then sent to cabinet for approval1. No date for those steps is given in the sources. The hearing itself was conducted online and has concluded1.
For the current legal position, see Can I Gamble in Thailand? and Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions.
