Thailand’s Casino Bill Receives a Makeover for Tourist Access
Thailand has removed the proposed 50 million baht (€1.3 million) six-month fixed deposit requirement for local gamblers. Policymakers argue that reducing the number of Thai gamblers would exclude too many people. Instead, the revised Entertainment Complex Bill draft proposes retaining only an affordable entry fee. The new bill eliminates a high-cost access barrier for local gamblers while also reducing the risk of potential gambling-related harms and addressing illegal gambling. This change is intended to uphold the mission of achieving economic goals while keeping potential negative social consequences in mind.
Revised Entry Rules Ease Restrictions For Thai Nationals
Thailand's Entertainment Complex Bill is the key to casino legalization. It has been amended several times to address various concerns. In the March 2025 update, Thai policymakers deemed the original requirement impractical due to its high deposit threshold. According to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, this requirement would limit access to only a few wealthy individuals.
In reality, nearly all of Thailand's 70 million citizens would not be eligible because only about 10,000 bank accounts in Thailand hold the previously required 50 million baht. Parties to the draft bill have now decided against the earlier proposal. Reminiscent of a South Korean casino where only foreigners could afford the entry requirements. According to casino experts, such a regime would be counterproductive because it would turn off investors.
Under the revised terms, Thai nationals must show tax returns from the previous three years to gain access to the casino floors. The new tax return requirement ensures gamblers have enough money to avoid bankruptcy while not raising the bar too high. The government intends to monitor things by mandating tax papers and aiding in responsible gambling efforts.
Capitalizing on the Entry Fee
Although the deposit requirement has been removed, Thai gamblers must still pay a 5,000 baht (130 euro) entry fee. While not as high as the scrapped deposit, the entry fee remains significant for Thai nationals, given that the country's average annual income in 2023 was 348,000 baht (€9,000), according to Statista. Hopefully, this fee will discourage locals from overspending on gambling.
This change could be especially beneficial now that Thailand wants to incorporate casinos into its economy without alienating its citizens. To achieve this, Southeast Asia has remained committed to becoming the region's tourist hub. Part of its strategy is to make its casinos appealing to foreigners. Gamblers from other countries, unlike Thais, will be allowed to enter for free because Thailand hopes to profit from foreign tourism.
Learning from Southeast Asia's Casino Landscape
Thailand is working to legalize casinos by learning from other prominent Southeast Asian gambling nations. Singapore provides a model blueprint. To begin with, the proposed entry fee system resembles Singapore’s operations, where residents have to pay while tourists are incentivized through free casino entry. In addition, Singapore has tightly controlled integrated resorts, such as the famous Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. With gaming accounting for no more than 5% of total space, these sites generate billions of dollars in revenue for Singapore annually.
Thailand plans to follow Singapore's lead with new regulations requiring casino operators to invest at least 10 billion baht (€260 million). Following the announcement of the Bill, global players such as Melco Resorts and MGM Resorts have already expressed interest.
According to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the government is also ready to tweak the Entertainment Complex Bill based on feedback. She believes the casinos can be shaped as small parts of expansive entertainment complexes that can improve Thailand’s tourism image. However, having the correct information is necessary for them to function as planned.
Casino-related projects are expected to help Thailand's economic growth, particularly as the country recovers from a low in tourism due to the pandemic. However, the bill's prohibition on online gambling and live streaming, intended to curb proxy betting, may reduce its appeal compared to more lenient markets. Thailand will attract top-tier operators if the country's regulations strike the right balance of integrity.
A Calculated Bet on Thailand's Future
Thailand is determined to use gaming to generate economic growth. It is constantly tweaking its casino bill to see how to realize this dream best. As previously stated, the preceding casino plan would not create an economic generator but a fancy playground for the elite. Though doubts still exist, the government is opening more access with an eye toward responsibility by eliminating the 50 million baht deposit requirement and depending more on tax returns and the entrance fee. The new approach may help the country develop entertainment complexes capable of competing with Singapore.