Government approves bill on casinos in Thailand

The Thai government has now approved a bill that could pave the way for casinos in Thailand. According to Bangkok Post The plan is to introduce gaming operations as part of larger “entertainment complexes”, with the aim of strengthening the economy and attracting more foreign tourists.

Part of a larger investment in tourism

The bill allows casinos to be established within special entertainment complexes that would also include hotels, conference centers, restaurants and amusement parks. According to the newspaper, the casino itself would occupy a maximum of 10 percent of the total area – the rest would be devoted to other activities.

The government expects the venture to attract investments of over 100 billion baht and increase the number of tourists by 5–10 percent per year. Estimates indicate that the state could collect at least 12 billion baht annually in tax revenue from casino licenses and gambling operations.

Tough requirements for Thais

According to Bangkok Post Strict rules are being introduced for domestic players. Thai citizens must show they have at least 50 million baht in bank accounts to gain access to the casino, and also pay an entrance fee of 5000 baht per visit. The rules are intended to curb gambling addiction and protect economically vulnerable groups.

Next step: Parliament

The bill now goes to parliament for consideration. If approved there, it will also require approval from the Senate and ratification by the king before it can come into force, reports Bangkok Post.

Read more: What are casino plans really about?

Thailand Info has previously compiled the entire background to the political debate about casinos, which investors have shown interest – and what the term “entertainment complex” actually means. Read our previous analysis here: Casinos in Thailand: Background, Risks and Opportunities

Text: The editorial staff

Image license: GregMontani, Pixabay, original image