Thailand proposes tough safeguards for local gamblers in casino plan

BANGKOK – Thailand has proposed tough entry requirements for local punters in casinos as it plans to build a major gaming industry to boost tourism, a new draft regulation released on Feb 17 showed, which could potentially dent investor interest.

Thai nationals must have at least 50 million baht (S$2 million) in fixed deposits for at least six months to be able to enter casinos, according to the draft issued by the Office of the Council of State, which governments consult on legal issues, policy and appointments.

Another restriction was that the casino area may only occupy up to 10 per cent of the entire complex space, the draft showed.

The requirements, which also include an entry fee capped at 5,000 baht, will effectively block large swathes of the population, where per capita gross domestic product is about 246,000 baht, according to government data.

Most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand but illicit betting is rife. Domestic casino players were seen as an important draw for foreign investors, who are closely watching details of the draft law, analyst say.

A Citi report late in 2024 estimated that about half of people age 20 and more in Thailand could be casino players, providing a base for the country to potentially become the worlds third largest gambling destination.

An entry fee as high as 5,000 baht would restrict casino access to the upper middle class and wealthier Thai individuals, said Mr Daniel Cheng, a gaming consultant based in Singapore.

“A further 50 million baht bank deposit requirement would render Thai casinos no better than foreigner-only regimes like South Korea’s,” he said.

Fresh public hearings for the new draft law will be held between Feb 15 and March 1. After they conclude, the draft law must be approved by cabinet before being