Thailand Greelights Draft Law to Legalize Casinos and Gambling

Thailand has taken a significant step toward legalizing gambling and casinos, as its cabinet recently approved a draft law aimed at boosting tourism, creating jobs, and attracting investment. 

The news comes roughly a week after the government revealed its plan to renew talks on the legalization of online gambling.

Gambling in Large-Scale Entertainment Hubs 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on Monday that the proposed legislation, which will be sent to parliament for further deliberation, would allow gambling within large-scale entertainment complexes.

Parliament recently approved a plan to consider the possibility of building entertainment complexes featuring casinos, concert halls, and sports betting venues like Muay Thai, cockfighting, and horse racing. 

The plan, targeting a record 40 million foreign visitors this year, suggests locations within 100 km of airports, without specifying an actual number of complexes to be created.

Currently, casinos and most forms of gambling are banned in Thailand, although underground gaming, soccer betting, and lotteries flourish, generating vast sums of unregulated revenue. 

Legal gambling in the country is limited to state-controlled horse racing and an official lottery. 

By comparison, neighboring countries like Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines have reaped substantial economic benefits from legal casino operations. 

However, this does not mean that difficulties in regulating gambling sectors no longer exist here. in and could prompt a broader investigation by authorities. 

One recent example is the case of the foreign workers who escaped from a Cambodian casino allegedly tied to human trafficking.

Dual Benefits Expected 

Thailand’s government believes the lack of regulated casinos is a missed opportunity for revenue and a barrier to maximizing its tourism potential.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of Thailand’s economy, with expectations of record-breaking visitor numbers in the coming years. 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn highlighted the dual benefits of legalization: safeguarding the public and generating state revenue. 

“Legalisation will protect the public and would also generate more state revenue,” she told reporters.

Efforts to legalize gambling in Thailand are not new but have historically faced resistance from conservative factions within the predominantly Buddhist nation. 

This latest proposal, however, is backed by data suggesting its economic advantages. 

Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat projected that legalization could increase foreign tourist arrivals by 5% to 10%, translating to an additional 120 billion to 220 billion baht ($3.45 billion to $6.32 billion) in tourism revenue. 

Furthermore, the initiative is expected to create 9,000 to 15,000 new jobs, providing a significant boost to local employment.

A key proponent of gambling reform is billionaire and former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, an influential figure and father of the current premier. 

Thaksin’s advocacy for legal gambling aligns with the ruling party’s push for economic revitalization through tourism and entertainment.