Thailand's third round of public consultation on the amended draft Entertainment Complex Business Act, widely called the casino bill, runs until 1 March 2025, after which the draft will be sent back to the Cabinet, according to a report by Thaipost1. The Council of State finished revising the draft and opened it to public comment1.
The Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, approved the bill's principles as proposed by the Ministry of Finance and sent it to the Council of State, chaired by Wissanu Krea-ngam, for review1. The Council of State's revised version adds several restrictions that were not in the ministry's original draft1:
| Provision | Original Finance Ministry draft | Council of State revision |
|---|---|---|
| Casino floor space | No ratio specified | Capped at no more than 10% of the entertainment complex |
| Minimum deposit for Thai nationals | Not included | 50 million baht |
| Community consultation | Not included | Required with surrounding residents before a license is issued |
| Environmental and social impact assessment | Not included | Required |
Opposition has widened. Civic networks including the Network of Students and Citizens for Reforming Thailand, the Dhamma Army and the Center for Protecting the Monarchy gathered to submit a letter opposing the bill at the Council of State office, demanding that casinos be removed from the draft entirely, and accused the government of using the term "entertainment complex" as a front for casinos1. The same day the groups held a small rally outside the office with signs reading "casino = crime center" and "gambling destroys families," threw playing cards on the ground and shouted "no casinos"1. Academics from five leading universities issued a statement saying casinos would severely affect Thailand's social structure and called on the government to delay the bill, while a campaign called "We don't want casinos" collected signatures against legal casinos1.
Government figures continue to say the bill will proceed. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat has said it is an "important policy for generating national revenue"1. Thaksin Shinawatra, who first proposed legal casinos during his time as prime minister, said in an August 2024 speech:
"ธุรกิจพนันในไทยมีอยู่แล้ว แต่รัฐบาลไม่ได้อะไรเลยจากเงินหมุนเวียนมหาศาล เราต้องดึงสิ่งเหล่านี้ขึ้นมาบนดิน ควบคุมให้ถูกต้อง และนำรายได้มาพัฒนาประเทศ"
The report also notes that several coalition parties have not fully backed the casino project, which it says may be another factor pushing the Pheu Thai-led government to review the risks1.
What it means for players
Thailand has no legal casinos, and the draft bill would not change that until it passes and licenses are issued. The revised text, if it becomes law, would set a 50 million baht minimum deposit for Thai nationals to enter a casino, a threshold far above what most local players hold, and would cap casino space at 10% of an entertainment complex. The bill's status is still a draft under consultation, so no venue, license, entry rule or deposit requirement is in force. The gambling laws in Asia guide tracks which forms of play are legal in Thailand and its neighbors, and the page on gambling in Thailand covers the current legal position for locals, expats and visitors.
What happens next
Public comment closes on 1 March 2025, after which the draft returns to the Cabinet1. The report says what the government and Pheu Thai do after that date is the next thing to watch, and that the casino dispute is not over1. No date has been reported for a Cabinet decision or for any parliamentary vote. The recent and pending gambling law changes page follows the bill's progress.
