Thai Officials Says up to Seven Operators Willing to Invest $6B on Casinos
Posted on: May 26, 2025, 04:55h.
Last updated on: May 26, 2025, 04:56h.
- Deputy finance minister says five to seven companies in play for casinos there
- Adds required investments could range from $6 billion to $9 billion
Thailand’s casino competition appears to be taking shape with a high-ranking official there saying it’s likely no more than seven global gaming companies have the capacity to develop high-end entertainment complexes in the country.
In a recent interview with The Bangkok Post, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said the field of operators with the potential to properly execute Thai casino bids is likely confined to five to seven players. He didn’t name names, but it is known that executives from MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts were recently in the country.
There are only about five to seven top-tier global operators in this sector, and they all view Thailand as a promising investment destination,” Julapun said in the interview.
The finance minister also investments in each entertainment complex with an integrated resort could range from $6.2 billion to $9.3 billion, or double to triple prior estimates of $3.1 billion. That range would make Thai casino hotels among the most expensive in industry history and put the venues on pace to potentially exceed some of the priciest gaming venues in the Asia-Pacific region.
Bangkok Could Be Home to Two Casinos
In March, Thailand named Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket as the initial homes to regulated gaming venues. Prior rumors indicated that two such venues would call Bangkok home, implying Thailand’s initial foray into casinos would consist of five properties. Julapun indicated the capitol city could indeed be home to a pair of gaming venues.
“Bangkok, in particular, is seen as highly suitable, with the potential to support more than one entertainment complex,” the official told The Post.
Bangkok, which is one of the primary drivers of tourism to the Southeast Asian nation, being home to two casinos could be to the liking of gaming companies, particularly after the Japan casino process collapsed due in large part to that country’s two largest cities balking after hosting gaming venues.
Julapun pointed out that Thailand is likely to award to three to five gaming licenses to start, implying that it’s possible some contenders will be left out in the cold. The deputy finance minister also said that when parliament resumes in July, gaming legislation will be atop the agenda. At the higher levels of the government, the hope is to swiftly pass the gaming bill and open the bidding process as soon as possible so that the entertainment complexes could be open prior to 2030.
Assessing Field of Thai Casino Contenders
Based on Julapun’s implication that there’s unlikely to be no more than seven credible bidders for Thai casino licenses, the process of deduction is relatively easy regarding what companies occupy the field.
As noted above, MGM and Wynn have indicated interest. So have Asian gaming giants Genting and Melco Resorts & Entertainment. Las Vegas Sands has also signaled it could evaluate a potential bid. All five of those operators have Asia-Pacific footprints.
Galaxy Entertainment, one of the top operators in Macau, has also said it’d be interested in pursuing a Bangkok. For now, it doesn’t as appear as though any other US-based companies are examining Thailand and at the $6.2 billion to $9.3 billion price range, the number that could afford the effort is small.
Last Comment ( 1 )
This is a huge development for Southeast Asia’s gaming industry. Thailand entering the casino market with up to $9B investments per integrated resort is a clear sign that the country is aiming to compete with major gaming hubs like Singapore and Macau. Bangkok hosting two venues could make it a centerpiece for iGaming tourism. It will be interesting to see which of the seven potential operators secure licenses—MGM, Wynn, Genting, and Melco are all powerhouses. Great insights as always from ultrawincom.in!