The Thai government is advancing an “entertainment complex” bill, which would allow casinos to operate within large-scale venues.
Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary general to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has indicated that the bill is expected to pass through both chambers of parliament in 2025.
The cabinet is anticipated to approve the bill later this year, after which it will be reviewed by the House of Representatives and the Senate next year. Each chamber typically takes several months to approve a bill through its three readings.
Prommin told Bloomberg News: “The law should be passed in six months at the earliest, so it should be next year to start.”
He added that several administrative steps would follow after the bill clears parliament before casinos can begin operations.
If fully implemented, casinos in Thailand could make the country a major player in the global gaming market. Citigroup analysts predict that the country’s gross gaming revenue could reach US$9.1bn, positioning it as the third-largest gaming market in the world, behind Macau and Las Vegas, but ahead of neighboring Singapore.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief
