Thailand urged to seize casino opportunity amid regional race for tourism dominance
UNLV official says Bangkok could outpace Singapore with right regulatory approach.
Key points:
– Global expert calls on Thailand to pursue regulated entertainment complexes
– Critics continue to voice concerns over potential criminal activity and oversight
– Momentum builds despite earlier protests against casino legislation
Thailand has a rare opportunity to become a major player in Asia’s entertainment and tourism economy if it embraces regulated integrated resorts, according to international gaming expert Bo Bernhard.
As reported by the Bangkok Post, Bernhard, Vice President of Economic Development at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, visited Bangkok recently to meet with policymakers and academics in support of legalising casinos.
Speaking during his visit, Bernhard compared Thailand’s potential to Singapore’s transformation in the early 2000s, when it shifted from being viewed as “a little bit boring” to hosting globally recognised resorts like Marina Bay Sands.
He argued that with Bangkok’s infrastructure and international airport, even two high-quality integrated resorts could allow it to surpass Singapore in terms of tourism value and length of stay.
Despite these restrictions, the bill has drawn criticism for lacking clarity on regulatory enforcement, licensing transparency and how it would prevent criminal exploitation – issues that derailed similar developments in neighbouring countries like Laos and Cambodia.
His remarks come amid a backdrop of growing resistance to the casino legislation. In April, the Pheu Thai-led administration faced criticism for attempting to fast-track the bill. Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome warned of risks, drawing comparisons to poorly regulated sites in Myanmar and beyond.
Good to know: Thailand’s proposed entertainment complex model would cap gaming space at 10% of the resort footprint. Thai citizens would reportedly need to show a THB50m (US$1.36m) deposit held for six months to qualify for entry
Bernhard insisted that world-class operators only enter markets with firm regulation. “The serious players want strict rules – anti-money laundering, know-your-customer checks, and visible enforcement,” he said. He noted that casinos typically comprise only a small part of a broader resort model.
Echoing his views, economist Narongchai Yaisawang highlighted that while Thailand attracted 40 million tourists in 2019, visitor spending lagged far behind Las Vegas. With improved offerings, he believes Thailand could significantly increase its tourism value.
Bernhard concluded that the coming decade will be critical. Without bold reform, Thailand risks falling behind in a rapidly evolving regional tourism race.
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