Thailand will legalize gambling in the near future

Today, current Thai law, based on the Gambling Act of 1935, bans any “land-based” casinos in the country, allowing only government-sanctioned betting on horse racing and lotteries. However, the creation of the committee, which will include 60 prestigious experts and MPs, suggests the possibility of reviewing the policy and exploring the potential of entertainment complexes with integrated casinos.

What are the plans and expectations for legalizing gambling? 

One of the key arguments for change is the proposed 30 percent tax on licensed casino premises. This incidentally may encourage operators to launch online casinos in the region, which do not need premises at all. A site, where you can download the mobile application Mostbet and play gambling without problems, is already available for Thailand residents.

Experts estimate that this could bring in up to 100 billion baht a year, which is about $3 billion. Such an impressive amount is extremely attractive to Thailand’s economy and could be a powerful financial boost for the country.

In addition, the new legislation will also allow sports betting, online gambling and speculation on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, which will open up new opportunities for the entertainment and investment industry.

The situation in Thailand regarding the legalization of gambling and the possible emergence of casinos has aroused keen interest and diverse points of view. The president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Sisdivakr Chivarattanaporn, has voiced his concerns about possible corruption, which he believes often arises from the legalization of gambling. He also expressed fears that entertainment complexes with casinos could become the prerogative of small groups of operators, which he believes will create inequality in the industry and cause problems.

In addition, the lack of land-based casinos in no way prevents the people of Thailand from playing casino games online.

On the other hand, Bummikitti Ruktaengam, advisory chairman of the Phuket Tourism Association, said the island does not need to add casinos to its infrastructure as it is already successfully positioned as a popular destination for foreign tourists due to its large number of unique outlets.

Instead, he suggested limiting entertainment complexes with casinos to second-tier cities to encourage tourism in other parts of the country. Such an approach, he argued, would balance tourism infrastructure and visitor offerings.

The divergent views suggest that Thailand faces an important choice regarding the development of the tourism industry and the economy as a whole. Undoubtedly, the introduction of gambling and casinos can attract more tourists and generate significant profits. However, the potential risks, such as corruption and imbalance in the industry, need to be carefully weighed against the many nuances and opinions of all stakeholders.Well, until legalization has not happened, the Thai authorities conduct raids and punish illegal gambling organizers.