The legal status of gambling may be set to change in Thailand in the next few years. At the moment the practice is more or less prohibited across the country, but casino operators are beginning to see the potential of building in the region. The prohibition of gambling dates back to the 1935 Gambling Act
The legal status of gambling may be set to change in Thailand in the next few years. At the moment the practice is more or less prohibited across the country, but casino operators are beginning to see the potential of building in the region.
The prohibition of gambling dates back to the 1935 Gambling Act in Thailand. From this, all forms of gambling except for the government-led lottery or horse racing are outlawed. However, there are still some types of betting that Thai residents are able to take part in, such as online casinos offering table games and slot machines, if they are hosted outwith Thailand. Part of understanding slot websites when playing online games is choosing a provider that offers the best additional features. For example, some will have impressive bonuses or sign-up rewards, multiple payment methods, or good customer support.
Figureheads in the international casino business have high hopes for Thailand, stating that if it legalized gambling, it could become one of the biggest destinations in the world for the activity. One only has to look at the Philippines to see that there is clearly a huge demand for betting and casinos across Asia. However, there is still some resistance to legalization from conservative politicians.
Because of the fact that Thailand currently has zero in-person casinos, international developers are pushing over each other to be the first to build in the area. It’s an amazing opportunity to grow resorts and multiple casinos in popular destinations. Although nothing has been confirmed, some of the regions that are in the running to be the first to host casinos are Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. All of the above are huge tourist hotspots and would be obvious picks for a casino.
Legalization could be on the horizon as the Thai government recognizes the need to expand its offerings to tourists. Upwards of 10 million visitors travelled to Thailand in 2022, and these numbers are expected to be higher by the end of 2023, clearly showing that there is a demand for increasing resorts and kick-starting economic growth.
There is talk that certain corporations from notorious gambling areas like Macau and Las Vegas could be permitted to build in Thailand in a “Special Zone”. These zones would be exempt from current Thai ownership regulations, and mean that well-known names could develop casinos legally. Although no concrete plans have been made, the CEO and chairman of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation expressed interest, stating that they are “certainly looking hard at Thailand” and they would “love to have a presence in the future” there.
As it stands, gambling enthusiasts (both Thai nationals and tourists) are having to play online or travel to neighbouring areas to partake in the activity, which is doing nothing to boost the economy of Thailand. It only makes sense for the government to take advantage of the desire to bet that so many have and allow the building of casinos.