Thai Royal Gazette publishes gambling notification

Thailand's Royal Gazette published a notification on gambling in volume 143, part 53 ก, dated 3 September B.E. 2569¹. The notice was issued by the Minister of Interior under the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 and its amendments, and was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul¹.

• The notification was issued by the Minister of Interior under the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 and signed by Anutin Charnvirakul¹.
• It permits a casino, gambling or games of chance at a site in Ban Khlong Sai Kaeo, Tambon Tha Kham, Amphoe Khlong Hat, Sa Kaeo province¹.
• A second Royal Gazette document, published 4 September B.E. 2569, sets out a regulation on the suppression of illegal gambling².

The notification permits gambling at a designated location in Sa Kaeo province, in the area of Ban Khlong Sai Kaeo, Tambon Tha Kham, Amphoe Khlong Hat, Sa Kaeo province, at a place specified by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior¹. It allows a casino, gambling or games of chance to operate there¹. The notice states that the permission is granted under Section 8 (1) of the Gambling Act B.E. 2478, as amended by the Gambling Act (No. 2) B.E. 2495, and Section 29 of the same act¹. The sources do not state the duration of the permission.

A second Royal Gazette document, published 4 September B.E. 2569 in volume 143, special part 212 ง, sets out a regulation from the Office of the Prime Minister on the suppression of illegal gambling². That regulation defines terms including "state agency," "gambling," "gambling establishment," "online gambling," "gambling supervisor," "competent official" and "integrated gambling suppression operations"². It states that the state agency must suppress and prevent illegal gambling, and that the competent official must act in accordance with the law².

The regulation also covers online gambling specifically. It requires the state agency to seize and suppress online gambling, and to block or take down gambling websites, URLs and applications, and to suppress the use of illegal communication channels². It sets out that the state agency may seize or freeze gambling-related assets, and that the competent official may seize, freeze or attach assets used in the commission of a gambling offense². It also provides for a data processing agreement between the state agency and the gambling operator, covering the collection, use and disclosure of gambling data².

The two documents are separate publications: the 3 September notification concerns a specific permitted gambling venue in Sa Kaeo, while the 4 September regulation sets out the framework for suppressing illegal and online gambling¹. The sources do not state the name of the operator, the number of tables or machines, or the value of any assets involved.

What it means for players

For people gambling in Thailand, the 3 September notification creates a location-specific permission: gambling at the designated site in Sa Kaeo is permitted under the terms of the notice¹. Gambling outside that site is not covered by this permission. The 4 September regulation confirms that online gambling remains a target for suppression, with state agencies required to block or take down gambling websites, URLs and applications². It also allows authorities to seize, freeze or attach assets connected to gambling offenses². The sources do not say how the rules apply differently to locals, expats or visitors.

What happens next

The regulation on illegal gambling suppression took effect on 4 September B.E. 2569². No further steps are set out in the sources.

For more on the legal position, see Can I Gamble in Thailand? and Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions.