The Royal Turf Club of Thailand announced on 3 October 2024 that its Sports and Entertainment Complex project is more than 90 percent progressed and that a first phase will begin in the first quarter of 2025 in three provinces: Bangkok, Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima1. The club said it aims to have the project built and open within three years1.
Colonel Phanthutchat Saengchot, secretary of the club, said the project covers six sites in six provinces: a main site in Bangkok near Lat Krabang or Nong Chok; two areas in Phuket, a 300 rai private island and an 850 rai coastal plot reserved mainly for VVIP members and guests of the association; 180 rai at Sai Yok in Kanchanaburi on the Khwae River; an area near Chiang Saen in Chiang Rai; 3,000 rai at Khao Yai for a horse breeding and expansion farm, a standard racetrack, hotel and resort; and a 2,000 rai site in the Eastern Economic Corridor1. Racecourses will be set up in three provinces: Bangkok, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Rai1.
The club said buildings will be low rise rather than landmark towers, with height expected not to exceed seven floors, and that the project will accept VIP members from around the world1. It estimates the completed project could draw more than 700 billion baht from abroad1.
"ไฟเขียวเริ่มดำเนินงานนำร่องใน 3 จังหวัด "กทม. ภูเก็ต โคราช" ไตรมาสแรกปี 68 ตั้งเป้าเปิดใช้ใน 3 ปี"
On the casino question, the club said an integrated entertainment venue or casino depends mainly on the law, and that if a draft bill passes, the committee may consider it at a later stage1. It said Phuket would be an early investment target if legislation passes1. The club said the project has been run in the form of a Sports Complex since 25611.
Funding is described in two forms: 50 billion baht in actual cash, with Sutthikarn Sutthiprapha as the main investor, and fundraising with Thai company RSC and New Zealand company Capital Trust Group Limited (CTG), including a Digital Bond or Blockchain Bond with a proposed offering value of 6 billion US dollars1. The Digital Bond adviser is Power-All Networks Ltd., a subsidiary of Hon Hai Precision Industry, or Foxconn, and CTG is in talks with a Singapore fund manager supervised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore on a VCC Fund1. The club targets more than 200 billion baht in investment1. It said the project would create job opportunities for more than a hundred thousand people1.
What it means for players
Thailand has no legal casino framework in place, and the club itself says any casino depends on legislation passing1. The pilot described for the first quarter of 2025 covers sports and entertainment facilities, not casino floors, and no operating casino has been announced. Betting in Thailand is restricted, and readers looking at what is currently permitted can check Can I Gamble in Thailand? and Can I Bet on Sports in Thailand?. Horse racing and betting on it are covered in Horse Racing and Betting in Thailand. For how casino entry, games and rules work elsewhere in the region, see Casinos and Integrated Resorts in Asia.
What happens next
The club says the first phase starts in the first quarter of 2025 in Bangkok, Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima, with a target to open within three years1. Any casino element awaits a draft law, after which the committee may consider it1. No date has been reported for a legislative vote, and no opening date beyond the three year target has been reported.
