Despite a rocky history with gambling and a deeply conservative culture, it seems that times are changing in Thailand when it comes to casinos and sports betting. Gambling wasn’t always illegal in Thailand. In fact, gambling was so integral to Thai society that several sports can be traced back to Siamese culture, including boat racing and cockfighting. Several kings even encouraged gambling as an activity during their reign.
So, what happened?Well, along with abolishing slavery and establishing a modern transport system, King Rama V also closed all gambling venues on 1 April 1917. In what could’ve seemed like an impractical April Fool’s joke, this act would only receive minor pushback in the 1930s and still holds in place today.
That was until 28 March 2024, when the House of Representatives in Thailand passed a bill to legalise casinos. The proposal is now being passed to the cabinet for its final decision. Not only did it find favour with the lawmakers, but also the Prime Minister of Thailand, Srettha Thavisin.
He published statements explaining that “entertainment complexes will enhance the country’s tourism industry” and that, “in the past, we have wasted enough time and opportunity” but not to worry, as “the government will reclaim the lost time and turn it into an economic opportunity for the country and its citizens.”
While the plan didn’t outline how many casinos could be built in the country, it did recommend that they be built relatively close to the airports. Indeed, like several other markets within the Asia-Pacific region, Thailand isn’t looking to attract locals to the casinos. Instead, lawmakers in Thailand are well aware of the tourism this would create in the country. China has still got a ban on gambling, with the exception of Macau, which means there’s a strong possibility that many would travel to a newly regulated Thailand to experience it there, too.
This is a similar principle to countries like South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore and the Philippines. However, this movement hasn’t been without its hurdles. Thailand is a deeply religious country, with over 90% of people identifying as Buddhist. In the religion, gambling is classed as one of the four sources of destruction, alongside debauchery, drunkness and associating with evil people.
In Buddhist teachings, there are several specific references to how gambling will only lead the person to suffering. If this wasn’t enough, there’s also a well-known Thai proverb: “Ten burglaries leave you with a house, 10 fires leave you with land, but gambling will leave you nothing.” With this much cultural resistance, it’s no surprise that every attempt to legalise gambling in Thailand has failed until now.
Despite this, gambling is as popular as ever. Currently, people in Thailand can only legally enjoy government-run horseraces and lotteries – with ‘legal’ being the main factor. Even though the country is so strict that it even bans citizens from owning more than 120 playing cards, lest they provide gambling to others, there are always opportunities for people who want it enough.
There are countless underground casinos, offering every avenue of illicit gambling, sports betting and whatever else you need. This is the unfortunate reality of most countries in the world, but the nature of them are always accentuated when it’s the surrounding culture that has pushed them underground, rather than them simply trying to avoid regulations.
For those who don’t want to risk illegal casinos, there’s another option for Thailand residents.The aforementioned Vietnam, Singapore and Philippines, along with the powerhouses of Macau and, less so, Australia, are all still viable options for Asian travellers.
Thus, these opportunities have not gone unnoticed by the Thailand Government, which projects that legalising gambling in the country could boost the economy by $12bn a year, rather than this being leaked out to its neighbours. “We can regulate the grey economy and collect taxes,” Thavisin continued. “We do not want to promote gambling but would rather supervise it and use the investment to create jobs.
” According to a survey by Thailand’s Centre for Gambling Studies and Centre for Social and Business Development, around 57% of Thailand residents have gambled in the past year, which translates to around 30 million people. While around 22.7 million of these reported that they gambled through the government lottery, 17.7 million admitted that they played illegal underground lotteries.
Not only that, but it was equally likely for someone to buy their first lottery ticket through an illegal operation as through the legalised government scheme. So it’s clear that there is a demand there, whether the wider population regard it as ethical or not.
Larger properties will also be required to invest at least $2.7bn back into the country just for the permission to operate. Not to mention that the construction of the casinos themselves would contribute to local companies involved in the projects, including builders, architects, and logistics crews. Another great factor to consider is the immediate impact that Thai casinos would create. Once the casinos are up and running, they’ll require staff to run them. This will include waitresses, managers and perhaps most importantly croupiers.
If you haven’t worked in a casino before, you might be unaware of just how much mobility comes with being a croupier. Many trained dealers travel the world, moving from casino to casino, or even sailing the seas on cruise ships. This means that not only will these Thai casinos provide direct revenue, but also provide great opportunities for local communities. Thailand isn’t just looking to capitalise on revenue from legalised casinos, though, it’s aiming to be a competitive force in the market.
Thailand representatives have recommended a 17% tax on gross gaming revenue, which is almost half of the 30% proposed by the Japanese Government for its new integrated resort. This newly integrated resort in Japan, by the way, is due to open a year after Thailand’s – meaning Thailand might actually steal a bit of thunder from its archipelago associate.
So it seems like, for the first time in over a century, legalised casinos could return to the Kingdom of Thailand. Whether they manage to undercut Japan in tax and opening ceremonies remains to be seen, but there’s one thing this industry loves, and that’s an underdog. Thailand has come from the back of the pack, with ambitious plans no less, only time will tell if it’ll become top dog.
