Thailand's revised draft of the Entertainment Complex Bill, published on Feb 15, proposes that casinos occupy no more than 10 percent of the premises of an integrated resort and be separated from the rest of the complex with their own gates and entrances1. The Cabinet approved the Bill on Jan 13, which the Business Times reported paves the way for gambling to be legalized as soon as the middle of the year1.
The draft allows gambling only at casinos inside fully integrated resorts, which must include at least four non-casino attractions such as hotels, convention halls, shopping malls or theme parks1. Licenses would go to companies with minimum capital of 10 billion baht (S$398 million) on an initial 30-year term, with a five billion baht registration fee and a one billion baht annual fee1. Thailand proposes a 17 percent tax on gross gaming revenue, against Macau's 35 percent special gambling tax1. The Bill sets the minimum gambling age at 20 and a 5,000 baht casino entrance fee for Thai citizens, while foreigners enter free1.
"A revised draft of the Bill, published on Feb 15, proposes that casinos make up no more than 10 percent of the premises of the integrated resort."
Specific locations have not been finalized; likely investment targets are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Pattaya, according to a January report in the Bangkok Post1. A Citigroup report published in November 2024 forecast Thailand's gambling revenue could reach US$9.1 billion once fully developed, the third-largest market globally after Macau and Las Vegas, assuming five casino licenses are issued1. Maybank forecast Thailand could see its first integrated resorts by as soon as 20291. Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, said six major gambling groups have expressed interest; Thai media reported them as Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, MGM China, Hard Rock Cafe and Melco Resorts & Entertainment1. Melco chairman and chief executive Lawrence Ho said the company has opened a Bangkok office ahead of applying for a license1.
| Item | Proposed terms |
|---|---|
| Casino share of resort premises | No more than 10 percent1 |
| Separation | Own gates and entrances1 |
| Minimum capital | 10 billion baht (S$398 million)1 |
| Licence term | 30 years initially1 |
| Registration fee | 5 billion baht1 |
| Annual fee | 1 billion baht1 |
| Tax on gross gaming revenue | 17 percent1 |
| Minimum gambling age | 201 |
| Thai citizen entrance fee | 5,000 baht1 |
What it means for players
Gambling in Thailand is not yet legal, and the Bill has not passed. If it becomes law as drafted, casinos would sit inside larger integrated resorts rather than as standalone venues, and would be physically separated from the hotels, malls and other attractions around them1. Thai nationals would pay a 5,000 baht entrance fee, described as about a week's wages for the average Bangkok worker based on Bank of Thailand data, while foreign visitors would enter free1. The minimum age would be 201. Gambling is already widespread in the country: a 2021 survey by Chulalongkorn University's Center for Gambling Studies found about 59.6 percent of people aged 15 and above took part in some form of gambling, including underground lottery betting and casinos in neighboring Myanmar or Cambodia1. For now, Thais and visitors who want legal casino play travel to jurisdictions covered in our gambling laws guide, including Singapore, the Philippines and Cambodia.
What happens next
The Bill must still pass before gambling is legalized, with the Business Times reporting legalization could come as soon as the middle of the year1. No date has been reported for a parliamentary vote, and no licenses have been issued.
