The Thai Government is pushing to finalise the entertainment complex bill (dubbed the ‘casino bill’), which will allow casinos to operate legally within entertainment complexes in the country.
As of early August, the Council of State, Thailand’s legal agency, has released the Casino Bill draft for public feedback until 18 August. After that, the bill, along with public feedback, will be presented to the cabinet for consideration.
Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said leaders and representatives of the coalition parties will hold a meeting at the Government House to discuss the bill soon after.
Under the bill's 65 sections, an entertainment complex must attain a licence to operate, which is valid for up to 30 years. An operator must also pay TBH5bn (US$140m) to register, plus an annual payment of TBH1bn. The complex will be assessed every five years. After 30 years, the licence can be renewed for another 10 years.
Individuals under the age of 20 are prohibited from entering such venues. The complexes are open to all foreigners, but Thai citizens must pay TBH5,000 as an entrance fee.
Under the bill, a policy board will be set up and chaired by the Prime Minister. It will be responsible for setting the rules and regulations governing gaming complexes.
Studies found that Thailand can lift tourism revenue by around TBH12bn, by legalising casinos and housing them within large entertainment complexes.
Pariyes Angkurakitti, a spokesman for the opposition Thai Sang Thai Party, however, slammed the project, saying efforts to regulate the casino industry can be hindered by lax law enforcement.
To understand more about Thailand’s background and the legalisation of its gambling sector, look up this in-depth report discussing Thailand's potential in the global market.
