National —
The Thai Cabinet has greenlit the Entertainment Complex Bill with the goal of boosting tourism and the economy, along with a proposed 5,000-baht entry fee for Thai nationals accessing casino facilities.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the decision following today’s Cabinet meeting (January 13th, 2025). She stated that the draft law, which was proposed by the Ministry of Finance, has already undergone public consultations and revisions based on feedback from all stakeholders and relevant agencies. The government hopes that the entertainment complex project will significantly boost the Thai economy and tourism sector.
The Prime Minister pointed out the success of similar projects in Singapore, where casinos account for only 10% of the entire complex but have substantially improved tourism and GDP growth for the country. She was optimistic that the project would result in similar economic benefits for Thailand. However, Thai nationals wishing to access casino facilities will be required to pay an entry fee of 5,000 baht, the PM said.
In response to concerns about potential increases in illegal activities, the Prime Minister stated that the government will impose strict regulations to reduce such risks but will also make sure the complex generate substantial tax revenue to benefit the country.
This being said, the cabinet approval is only the first step to make regulated casinos legal, the draft law will next be sent to the Office of the Council of State for further feedback. It will then be submitted to the House of Representatives for approval and formal voting.
According to the bill, complex operators will get lease agreements for up to 50 years, and licenses will last up to 30 years, with reviews every five years.
The licensing fees include a 100,000-baht application fee, a 5-billion-baht first-license fee, and an annual fee of 1 billion baht. License renewals will cost 5 billion baht, with an annual fee of 1 billion baht. Thai nationals will be required to pay a 5,000-baht entry fee to access casino facilities. This high financial barrier to entry should ensure only the highest qualified companies can legally run a casino, claims the Thai government. Additionally, the central government must approve each casino and the applicant must prove only 10% of the business is a casino and is primarily focused on businesses like resorts, hotels, restaurants, etc.
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