Thailand Casino Bill Folds on Entry Condition, Resorts Will Welcome All

Posted on: March 4, 2025, 11:31h. 

Last updated on: March 4, 2025, 12:46h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.
  • Thailand is seeking to legalize casinos
  • A previous bill suggested forcing Thai people to prove their net worth to gamble
  • The casino push is supported by PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra

Should the Thailand casino bill become law, the forthcoming gaming resorts will be accessible to everyone regardless of financial standing so long as they’ve filed tax returns.

Thailand casinos gambling entry fee
The Big Seated Buddha is a major attraction in Thailand’s Wat Paknam Phasi Charoen temple in Bangkok. Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra hopes to have casinos as another tourism attraction in the coming years. (Image: Shutterstock)

Known as the Entertainment Complex Bill, Thailand’s controlling Pheu Thai Party, at the request of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is expected to pass this year. The initial gaming bill, as first reported by Casino.org, included a condition that would have required locals to prove that they have at least 50 million baht (US$1.5 million) to access the casino.

This week, Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said that after hearing the public’s concerns on how a $1.5 million entry rule would essentially ban most Thai residents from participating, the Council of State removed the admission statute.

The [Finance] Ministry checked the data and found there are only 10,000 Thai accounts with at least 50 million baht. So, the former requirement would push people to gamble elsewhere, which could be illegal,” Julapun said. “This amendment has been agreed on by the ministry and the Council of State.”

The Thailand casino bill proposes five casinos in four cities — Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai. Julapun said the latest Thailand casino bill was sent back to the Cabinet on February 28. It hasn’t been scheduled for review.

Thailand is home to about 70 million people, ranking it among the world’s top 20 most populated places.  

Casino Entry Requirements Remain 

Though locals won’t need to prove their wealth to enter a casino in Thailand, entrance requirements remain in the latest version of the Entertainment Complex Bill. Thailand residents will still need to pay a 5,000 baht (US$148) admission fee to gamble.

The hefty entry price for locals will likely keep many away. While that could be good for limiting possible societal costs of authorizing casino gambling, it might not aid in Paetongtarn’s wishes to “solve illegal gambling.”

The average annual household income in Thailand is approximately 350K baht, or less than US$10,400. Another condition for casino entry is that locals have filed at least three years of tax returns. That could be to prove that the person seeking to gamble is at the very least employed with an income.

Along with the entry requirements for Thai nationals, the casino bill proposes a 17% tax on gross gaming revenue.

Visiting Thailand  

Paetongtarn is hopeful that casinos can further spark tourism’s rebound in Thailand, which remains slightly subdued in the COVID-19 pandemic’s aftermath.

One of the top 10 most visited countries in the world, Thailand said about 39.8 million foreigners visited the country in 2019. That number plunged to just 6.7 million in 2020, and to less than one million in 2021.

Numbers have since rebounded to 11 million in 2022, 28.1 million in 2023, and 35.5 million last year. Last year’s total visitor account remains more than four million visitors below 2019.

Tourism accounts for about 20% of Thailand’s economy. The country is known for its gorgeous beaches, unique cuisine, rich cultural experiences, abundant national parks, and many adventure activities.