Thailand Looks To Legalize Casinos

Thailand has become the latest country in southeast Asia considering the legalization of casinos. Government officials announced a bill moving through parliament last week and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin supports the efforts.

The country is already popular with tourists and some gaming insiders believe adding a casino could make it even more attractive. Thavisin and his administration see legalizing casinos as a way to boost the economy of a country with almost 72 million people. Horse racing and the lottery are the only legal forms of gambling currently, but underground casinos and sports betting are an ongoing problem, according to reports.

“We have to admit that there is illegal gambling in the country. We are trying to get rid of (it) but it cannot be wiped out, so we have to rethink and see that it is time for this,” Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said.

Keeping Gambling In The Country

Gambling is proven popular in many parts of Asia, and several countries have moved to meet that demand over the last couple decades, including South Korea, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, and others.

Backers of the bill point to lost tax revenue as Thai gamblers regularly cross the border to wager in neighboring countries or take advantage of underground options.

“We can regulate the grey economy and collect taxes,” Thavisin noted on Twitter about the issue. “We do not want to promote gambling, but would rather supervise it and use the investment to create jobs.”

The Thai parliament has already approved a proposal to begin studying the issue, which includes the possibility of adding larger entertainment and resort-style complexes that would also include music and sports venues. The number of casinos that would be allowed wasn’t included, but the plan calls for gaming venues to be within 100 kilometers (62 miles) of airports.

The plan would also utilize private companies as seen in Japan and other countries, rather than a government-run approach as with the country’s horse racing industry. However, the plan has been met with some resistance among conservative members of parliament.

While Thailand seeks its first legal poker room, one of its natives, Punnat Punsri, has taken the lead in the Card Player Player of the Year race. Punsri, from Bangkok, has earned more than $15 million on the high roller circuit and is far and away the all-time money list leader for his nation.

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