On January 13, 2025, Thai Prime Minister Pei Tongtan announced that the Thai cabinet has approved the "Entertainment Complex Act Draft" drafted by the Ministry of Finance, which will legalize gambling and casinos in Thailand.
This decision not only represents a significant shift in Thailand's economic development direction but may also bring new opportunities for tourism, employment, and investment.
Core Content and Background of the Act
The core content of the "Entertainment Complex Act Draft" is to allow legal gambling operations within large entertainment complexes. This bill will be submitted to the Thai Parliament for review, and if passed smoothly, casinos will become a part of this act.
Currently, most forms of gambling in Thailand are illegal, yet football betting, underground gambling, and lotteries are very common. The government previously only allowed some controlled forms of gambling, such as national horse racing and official lotteries.
The passage of this bill means that the Thai government is determined to address the issue of illegal gambling by legalizing it, while also opening up new points of economic growth.
Neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Singapore, the Philippines, Laos, and Myanmar have seen considerable economic benefits from the casino industry, and the Thai government believes that ignoring the construction of legal casinos would miss important economic and tax opportunities.
Expected Benefits of Implementing the Act
Prime Minister Pei Tongtan stated that the legalization of gambling would not only effectively protect public safety but also bring more revenue to the country. She pointed out that many countries' successful experiences show that casinos do not necessarily dominate entertainment complexes.
For example, in Singapore's integrated entertainment centers, casinos only account for 10%, while the remaining 80% to 90% of the facilities are related to tourism. This model not only promotes rapid growth in the tourism industry but also significantly enhances the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Deputy Minister of Finance of Thailand, Zhulapong, also stated that if the bill is passed, the number of foreign tourists is expected to increase by 5% to 10%, and tourism revenue will increase by about 120 billion to 220 billion Thai Baht (approximately 15.5 billion to 28.5 billion RMB), while creating 9,000 to 15,000 new jobs. This is undoubtedly good news for Thailand's current economic stagnation and severe inflation.
Challenges and Opportunities of Legalizing Casinos in Thailand
Successive Thai governments have tried to promote the legalization of gambling to boost economic development, but each attempt has faced strong opposition from conservatives.
However, in the current social and economic context, the Thai government believes that promoting this process has become a necessary step in advancing national modernization and economic revitalization.
Prime Minister Pei Tongtan emphasized that this issue must be viewed from a modern perspective and promoted transparent management. This is not only a new attempt at national development but also an indispensable transformation.
She pointed out that the problem of illegal gambling is very common in Thailand, and by legislating to bring gambling activities into the legal regulatory framework, it can effectively solve this problem, ensure public safety, and bring stable tax revenue to the country.
Future Outlook: Promoting Comprehensive Development
The passage of the bill marks a significant step for Thailand towards achieving more sustainable tourism development and economic transformation. The bill will not only improve the current state of the gambling industry but also attract more international investment to Thailand, enhancing its competitiveness in the Southeast Asian and global tourism markets.
Prime Minister Pei Tongtan stated that although this process may require more communication and explanation, in the long run, it will have a positive impact on Thailand, promoting the country's development in new areas and helping Thailand move towards a more prosperous future.
Review and Implementation of the Act
The "Entertainment Complex Act Draft" will undergo further review in the Thai Parliament and may be modified based on the recommendations of the Parliament. The draft bill also stipulates the operating costs of the entertainment centers, such as the initial license fee of 5 billion Thai Baht, an annual fee of 1 billion Thai Baht, and an entry fee of 5,000 Thai Baht for Thai citizens.
Once the bill is passed and takes effect, Thailand could become a new gambling and tourism destination in Southeast Asia. This will not only help promote the prosperity of the tourism industry but also bring considerable tax revenue and a large number of job opportunities to the country, injecting strong momentum into Thailand's economic revitalization.
In summary, with the passage of the "Entertainment Complex Act Draft," Thailand will occupy a more important position in the global tourism market, opening up new horizons for the country's future development.
