To boost the sluggish tourism economy, the Thai government is actively promoting the legalization of casinos and planning to establish highly regulated integrated entertainment centers to prevent money laundering and excessive gambling. In early June, Suksit Srichomkhwan, the Deputy Secretary-General to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, stated at a press conference that the government intends to introduce regulatory standards from countries like Singapore, Japan, and the UAE to create a "responsible gambling" framework.
According to the preliminary plan, casinos will be subject to strict restrictions: no advertising of any kind, no entry for individuals with high financial risk, the casino area must not exceed 10% of the total area of the integrated entertainment center, and each center must include at least four non-gambling projects. The minimum investment amount for projects is set at 100 billion Thai Baht (approximately 2.7 billion USD).
The most controversial aspect is the threshold for Thai citizens to enter—bank accounts must hold at least 50 million Thai Baht (approximately 1.35 million USD) in deposits. The Ministry of Finance has stated that it will consider adjusting these standards.
Suksit noted that the government will comprehensively track the flow of funds inside and outside the casinos to prevent them from becoming money laundering platforms, and emphasized that even operators support strict regulation.
Economically, Thailand hopes to attract more international tourists through this initiative. Data shows that legal casinos are expected to drive a 5% to 20% increase in tourist numbers, with per capita spending expected to rise to 22,000 Thai Baht (approximately 670 USD). International gambling giants like Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts have already expressed interest in investing.
However, the plan still faces many obstacles, with religious organizations, anti-gambling groups, and conservative political parties expressing strong opposition, concerned that widespread gambling will increase the burden on low-income families and foster foreign monopolies.
Deputy Finance Minister Julalak said that the government will not rush the legislation and will ensure that the regulations are transparent and enforceable. The goal is to complete the relevant legislative procedures within the next two years and turn the gambling entertainment centers into a new engine for the national economy.
