Blog

If Thailand Legalizes Gambling, Casinos Won’t Need to Look Far for Gamblers
27 August

If Thailand Legalizes Gambling, Casinos Won’t Need to Look Far for Gamblers

The Pheu Thai, Thailand's ruling political party, is still pushing for the approval of casino resorts.

If slot machines and table games were introduced to the almost 66 million-person nation in Southeast Asia, the vast majority of the players would probably be Thai, according to new study released this week by a special House committee.

The cabinet was informed by the committee led by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat that approximately 90% of casino patrons would likely be citizens of the country.

The study made use of data analytics centered on Macau, a Special Administrative Region of China where six casino operators claim that locals and visitors from the mainland make up roughly 90% of their customer base. The Thai House committee came to the conclusion that its own casino resorts should anticipate a similar prognosis using those metrics.

 

Regional Emphasis

The study group used the assumption that 10% of Thai adults between the ages of 18 and 75 who do not possess a national welfare card and are thus eligible to visit a casino will do so. That would translate to almost 3.7 million individuals.

Based on the committee's assumption that 10% of Thailand's annual foreign visitor population, or 1.1 million tourists, would be eager to bet, the research concluded that the potential casino customer base might be as high as 4.8 million persons.

The committee feels that its estimate is cautious because studies conducted by the global gaming sector have shown that approximately 25% of adults bet globally. Additionally, Asian societies have historically been more inclined to gamble than cultures in other regions of the world.

Currently, the only gambling options available in Thailand are state-run lotteries and horse racing wagers. But there is a lot of illegal gambling in Thailand, such as sports betting rings and underground casinos.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin resigned earlier this month, and her replacement, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, continued Srettha's belief that legalized casinos would end illegal gambling, boost Thailand's economy and tax revenue, and boost tourism.

Amidst political pressure to hire Pichit Chuenban to work in his office, Srettha resigned with effect from August 14. In 2008, Pichit was imprisoned for trying to buy off Supreme Court justices.

 

Casino Information

The specific rules governing casinos in Thailand will be decided by Paetongtarn's Entertainment Complex Policy Committee in the event that the Senate votes to approve the initial allocation of up to five resorts.

Although the regulatory committee is still accepting public comments, it has previously suggested that casino operators be charged a five billion baht (US$150 million) license fee, which is renewable for one billion baht each year. The minimum validity period for licenses would be 30 years.

The committee suggests that the total area of each resort's casino floors should not exceed 5%. The Entertainment Complex Policy Committee has recommended that entry fees for gambling by locals, or Thai residents, not surpass 5,000 baht, or roughly $150.

Based in Las Vegas Wynn Resorts has made its interest in Thailand known to the public. Wynn is still very much invested in Macau and is building Wynn Al Marjan Island in the United Arab Emirates, so it is still bullish on foreign investment.

Other News

Image
Macau Casino Revenue Improves in August Thanks to Favorable Calendar
In August, Macau's casino took in MOP19.8 billion (US$2.47 billion). The August draw increased 6.2% ..
Read more
Image
Gaming Trade Group Encourages Regulators to Crack Down on Internet Sweepstakes
Online sweepstakes should be subject to tighter regulatory scrutiny, according to the American Gamin..
Read more
Image
New York State Illegal Betting Ringleaders Linked to Corrupt Cop Sentenced
Three years of probation, including ten months of home detention, have been imposed on two men from ..
Read more

Promoted Casinos

 

A fantastic way for players to increase their bankroll is through an online casino promotion. In contrast to physical casinos, an online casino will never ask you to make a deposit in order to receive your bonus. You will therefore always have the choice to play for free. Some online casinos even link their promotion to a specific slot machine, allowing you to play on that machine and potentially win big.
It is best to carefully read the terms and conditions before you begin playing to determine whether the promotion is worthwhile taking a chance on.

1
Mr Spin
4.8
  • 50 free spins on top of a 100% first-deposit bonus.
  • There is telephone support available 24/7.
  • Mobile casino is incredibly user-friendly.
Mr Spin
Up To 50 FREE SPINS!

18+. New Players only. Up to £3 bonus credit. Win paid as bonus credit. 40x wagering requirement. Up to 100% deposit match of first deposit awarded as bonus credit via Lobby Game. Max bonus £100. Min deposit £3. £50 Max withdrawal from bonus win. 7 day expiry. T&Cs apply.

2
Luck Land
4.6
  • Secured with SSL encryption
  • Unbiased audits that determine what is fair
  • Live dialogue
Luck Land
Your Online Gaming Hub With Up To £1000 and 200 Spins!

18+. New Players only. Play responsibly.