On the 27th of March, 2025, the Thai government approved the Entertainment Complex Business Act, a draft bill that allows for casinos in large entertainment complexes. With the bill going to parliament, the nation takes one step closer to leveraging the potential of casino complexes to enhance its tourism sector. This move means Thailand would be joining regional neighbors Cambodia and Singapore in harnessing the benefits of casino complexes for economic growth.

For the gambling community in Thailand, this is a welcome development. Currently, Thailand relies on online platforms to make bets on sports and lottery games. These platforms give people access to a wide variety of casino games where they can stake their money, win big, and enjoy fast payouts. Convenience and fast payouts are some of the perks online casinos bring to the table, which is why they are popular in Thailand. (Source: https://www.cardplayer.com/online-casinos/fast-payout-casinos). 

At the heart of the proposal is a structure that seeks to open up Thailand’s entertainment sector while maintaining control over who gets to participate. The current version of the bill places restrictions on Thai citizens intending to gamble in licensed facilities. Locals would have to pay a planned 5,000 baht (about USD 147) entrance fee to enter the casino floor. In certain instances, the standards are more stringent and call for evidence of significant financial holdings, including a minimum bank deposit of 50 million baht (about USD 1.47 million). 

These entry barriers have raised concerns about the proposal’s exclusion of locals. The government is, however, open to suggestions that would lower these entry requirements and give Thai citizens an inclusive experience while preventing possible financial complications and unregulated gambling.

In contrast, foreign tourists would not be subject to similar limitations because the Thai government hopes to take advantage of a possible increase in foreign travel. Thailand hopes that by giving foreign gamblers unrestricted access, it will draw wealthy tourists from nations like China, Japan, and South Korea. These countries are huge markets for tourists who visit for leisure or entertainment purposes. Early projections suggest that this plan might increase foreign visitor numbers by up to 10% while bringing in between 120 billion and 220 billion baht (about USD 3.5 to USD 6.5 billion) annually. The Thai government expects to receive up to 40 million foreign visitors in 2025. Furthermore, there may be a significant impact on the labor market. According to Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, this action could increase state revenue by creating 9,000–15,000 new jobs.

In line with successful markets such as Singapore and Japan, the Entertainment Complex Business Act is positioned as a comprehensive economic development strategy that, if passed, would open the door for the construction of integrated resort complexes that include casinos, hotels, shopping malls, theme parks, conference centers, and other entertainment attractions. 

The current guidelines would only allow for 10% of the total area of these complexes to be used for gambling, with the remaining portion being used for more general tourism and leisure purposes.

With over $305 billion in revenue from the global casino industry as at 2024, this bill would help Thailand get a slice of the pie and reshape its image as a top destination for tourism and entertainment while gaining from the benefits that regulated gambling has to offer.