Thai casino visitors may face high entry requirement

Thai residents have been presented with a major hurdle by the latest draft regulations for legalized casino gambling in the country. 

Under the latest proposals, Thai nationals will need to have at least 50 million THB – about $1.5million – in fixed deposits for at least six months before they are allowed to enter a casino on home soil.

That would mean the overwhelming majority of Thais would be unable to visit a local casino. The average annual wage in the country is about 1.17million THB, which is roughly $34,000. 

The stringent entry requirement features in a draft issued this week by the Office of the Council of State, which advises the Thai government on policy and legal issues.

The size of the amount needed to qualify as a visitor to a casino is a reflection of the divided opinion among the Thai people and their rulers towards the legalization of casinos. 

Thailand’s government, currently led by the Pheu Thai party, believes it can attract more than 100billion THB in new investment, with potential annual revenue estimated at more than 12billion THB.

They have seen neighbors such as Singapore, the Philippines, and Cambodia benefit financially from permitting large casino complexes within their borders. 

At the same time, there is deeply entrenched opposition to gambling in a nation with a Buddhist majority. Some local politicians believe a legal gambling industry would add to social problems. 

A January 2025 poll by the National Institute of Development Administration found that 69% of Thais disagreed with online gambling, and 59% were opposed to the prospect of casinos and entertainment complexes opening in the country.

Opening casinos would make Thailand even more attractive to tourists. A total of 38 million visitors are expected from overseas in 2025 – close to the record of 40 million that was set before the Covid-19 crisis. 

However, the high entry requirement for Thais wishing to visit a casino will ensure that any new facility will effectively be restricted almost entirely to foreign visitors. 

This is a nation that enjoys its sport and esports. It is about to host the VALORANT Masters Bangkok between February 20 and March 2.

And, while almost all forms of gambling are currently illegal in Thailand, betting with unlicensed operators is widespread. If casino gambling is legalized, it has been estimated that about half the population over the age of 20 could be players. 

That means the Thai government needs to tread a delicate path as it balances the benefits and drawbacks of enabling entertainment complexes and casinos – and the investment they bring – to come to Thailand. 

Public hearings for the new draft law are taking place between February 15 and March 1. It can then be sent to the Thai cabinet for approval, followed by discussions in parliament.

Millions of eyes in Thailand and beyond will be watching to see what happens.