Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin watches the Asian World Cup Qualifying, Second Round, Group C match between Thailand and South Korea at the Rajamangala Stadium.
Amphol Thongmuangluang Sopa Images | Light Rocket | Getty Images
The Thai government is considering drafting a casino bill that, if passed by parliament, would create more jobs and state revenue and allow the creation of large-scale entertainment projects, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Friday.
Casinos are illegal in Thailand, and the only gambling allowed is state-controlled horse racing and lotteries, although illegal gambling is common and underground casinos and football betting are prevalent.
Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy is considering allowing casinos as another means of attracting investment and tourism, according to a study approved by parliament late Thursday night.
Many industry insiders believe Thailand’s legal casino market will be a huge success in attracting overseas tourists, providing strong competition to the world’s largest gambling hub, Macau, the only place in China where citizens can legally gamble in casinos.
“We can regulate the gray economy and tax it… We don’t want to promote gambling but would rather regulate it and use investment to create jobs,” Srettha said in a post on X.
Legalizing gambling has been discussed in the past, but the government has yet to take action due to public opposition.
Underground casinos do exist in Thailand, but large numbers of Thais travel to neighboring Cambodia and elsewhere to visit large casino complexes, and gambling advocates say the revenue can be kept at home.
Without revealing the exact location of the proposed entertainment complex, Srettha said the complex would house concert halls and sports venues, among others, as well as a casino, although this would only account for 3 to 10 percent of the total area. On X social media.
He added that the cabinet must submit a draft law to parliament for consideration.
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