Thailand to legalise poker for international competitions
Acting PM signs order to pave way for regulated play.
Key points:
– Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai signs order lifting poker ban
– Move intended to promote poker as a sport, not gambling
– Regulatory framework still required before full legalisation
Thailand is preparing to allow poker to be played legally under specific conditions, with Interior Minister and Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai having signed an order revoking outdated restrictions on the game.
As reported by The Nation, the move is aimed at supporting poker’s development as a recognised competitive sport and laying the groundwork for Thailand to host international tournaments. However, Phumtham emphasised that legalisation remains provisional and contingent on the establishment of a robust regulatory framework.
He acknowledged the sensitivities surrounding poker in the country, where gambling remains tightly restricted, but said that many international and domestic bodies already classify poker as a sport. For the game to thrive in Thailand, proper oversight and clear legal boundaries are required.
Phumtham stated that legal recognition of poker should not be equated with general approval of gambling. He insisted that while poker may involve elements of chance, it is fundamentally a game of skill when played competitively. To avoid misuse, he stressed that legal permission would be granted only under strict conditions.
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“Poker as a sport deserves its place, but it must be handled carefully. What is appropriate will be permitted, and what is not must be clearly prohibited,” he said.
Other forms of gambling will remain under existing controls.
The lifting of the poker ban, for now, serves as a preliminary step towards formal regulation, rather than an open door to broader legalisation of gaming in Thailand.
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