Thailand🇹🇭: authorities prepare to revisit gambling-sector reform

Thailand🇹🇭: authorities prepare to revisit gambling-sector reform

Faced with the need to stimulate international tourism while combating illegal gambling, the authorities in Thailand🇹🇭 prepared a draft Entertainment Complex Bill in mid- 2025, but it was not approved due to the political crisis. Although the crisis has since subsided, pressure to pursue partial gambling legalization continues to grow.

📌 What does the bill provide❓
🤔 Framework: legalization of casinos, but only as part of large integrated resorts (to date, only state lotteries and horse racing have been authorized in the country).

🤔 Format: the casino may occupy only part of the complex, which must also include at least four additional businesses in the services and tourism sectors, such as hotels, stadiums, shopping centers or amusement parks.

🤔 Market access: B2B operators and foreign investors would be subject to strict requirements designed to prevent unreliable participants from entering the market.

⚠️ Limited liability companies or joint-stock companies registered in Thailand

⚠️ Minimum registered capital of approximately USD 290 million❗️

🤔 License cost: more than USD 150 million, plus an annual fee of USD 30 million. The license would be valid for 30 years, with the possibility of renewal for an additional 10 years.

📌 Why was it not approved❓ The domestic political crisis, which ultimately led to a change of government, was compounded by opposition from the Senate and protests by religious groups and NGOs concerned about gambling addiction and potential money laundering.

As a result, authorities stepped up efforts to crack down on unauthorized gambling activities. During the football World Cup⚽️, for example, more than 55,000 betting websites were blocked and more than 8,000 bettors were arrested, in addition to the operators themselves.

📌 Nevertheless, the current administration continues to plan to revisit the bill in late 2026 or early 2027. To revive the tourism sector, Thailand needs a regulated and taxable gambling market; otherwise, its ability to compete with other regional tourism hubs will remain limited.

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