Thailand casino plan could reshape Philippine gaming landscape, industry leaders say
Thailand is pushing towards legalising casinos with its Entertainment Complex Bill. While the casino bill has been placed on hold amid political negotiations and public backlash, the possibility of its eventual passage is enough to stir discussions on its ripple effects, particularly on tourism and investor behaviour.
The country’s casino plans could usher in changes across Southeast Asia’s gaming sector, posing new challenges for the Philippines, according to industry leaders. Speaking with SiGMA News, Evan Spytma, CEO of Casino Plus and Hotel Stotsenberg Leisure Park and Hotel Corporation, and Gilbert Padua, Sales Director of Bromhead Holdings Inc., talked about the potential shifts in regional gaming dynamics, the road ahead for the Philippine gaming, and how the sector could prepare.
“Thailand is an amazing country to add a regulated market to,” Spytma told SiGMA News. “It’s pretty much like putting a cherry on top.”
However, Spytma acknowledged that the move could lead to shifts in regional tourism. “Foreign tourists coming to the Philippines will be affected, given that they will now be able to have their entertainment, their golfing in Thailand, as well as their gambling activities,” he said.
For the Philippine gaming industry, especially integrated resorts (IRs) and casinos dependent on international visitors, this represents a potential redirection of tourist inflows.
Competitive pressure and opportunities for reform
Despite this possible challenge, Spytma is not sounding the alarm. Instead, he views competition as a prompt for progress.
“I think competition is good,” he stated. “If there is an effect on the Philippines, then the markets will adjust. For example, if hospitality needs to increase the quality of rooms or the experiences in the Philippines need to change, I think that will be a catalyst for positive change.”
In this light, Thailand’s entry into the legal gaming market could spur improvements in service standards, infrastructure, and regulation within the Philippines. “Having another regulatory body will also decrease taxes overall,” Spytma added. “Not only on the economies itself, but also for operators in the local markets.”
Keeping the Philippines competitive
Asked what the Philippines must do to maintain its edge, Spytma pointed to the country’s regulatory stability and long-standing experience in gaming.
“The Philippines does have a very long history with gaming,” he said. “If they play their cards right, all these operators won’t make a sudden shift to Thailand in a new market that they don’t understand.”
He praised the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) ‘s ongoing efforts, saying the regulator is “working very closely with operators to try to understand the market and understand the needs.” According to Spytma, a stable, pro-gaming environment is key to insulating the Philippines from potential competition.
Supplier’s perspective: Thailand as an opportunity
For Padua, Thailand’s possible casino legalisation isn’t a threat: it’s an emerging market. “As for the supplier’s point of view, I don’t think it will affect the market,” Padua told SiGMA News. “But for the casino business per se, since the Philippines has been more than decades on the casino business and Thailand is just opening up, I don’t think it will immediately affect any gross gaming revenue (GGR) being generated by the Philippines.”
Padua, whose firm supplies slot machines and other casino equipment, sees Thailand’s development as a growth prospect. “Of course, yes. It’s a big market, actually,” he said. “Especially for those big suppliers of equipment and casino, it will be very good for our business.”
He believes Thailand will need time to catch up, particularly in building the regulatory and operational sophistication the Philippines has developed.
Timing and regulation: A measured threat
Padua noted that while Thailand’s casino ambitions are real, its current lack of legal clarity and market maturity limits its immediate impact.
“I don’t think in the next five or ten years it will affect the Philippine market,” he said, citing the comparative advantage of the Philippines in terms of regulatory frameworks and its openness to local players. “Especially that Philippine regulations, we allow locals to play. I believe Thailand will be following the same regulations as Vietnam and Cambodia, which only allow tourists.”
This distinction, Padua suggested, gives the Philippines broader market reach for now.
PAGCOR’s role and industry outlook
Padua also pointed to PAGCOR’s efforts to prepare for changes in regional competition. “The good chairman of PAGCOR is already on it,” he said, referring to ongoing reforms and aggressive marketing strategies aimed at strengthening the industry.
“Now all the PAGCOR casinos, all the operated casinos already upgraded their slot machines, their casino area, and are improving the hospitality side of the business,” he said.
These upgrades, along with leniency in operational guidelines and potential tax adjustments, aim to make Philippine casinos more appealing to operators and patrons.
Looking forward, Padua is confident in the Philippines’ trajectory. “[The] Philippines is already at par with Macau gaming,” he declared. “We have this outlook of even surpassing the gaming environment or gaming operations in Macau.” He went as far as saying that the Philippines could emerge as a future threat to both Macau and Las Vegas. “We’re in that direction.”
Broader implications for Southeast Asia
On a regional level, Spytma expects Thailand’s entry into legalised gaming to bring more than just competition. “There would be a natural expansion of some of the largest land-based integrated resorts to Thailand,” he noted. “So, from a player perspective, not only can they play at the theme land-based hotel or land-based IR, [but] they can also experience the best of both worlds: both in the Philippines and Thailand.”
With proper regulation, Spytma believes Thailand could unlock a new segment of players and investments. “It’s almost unlocking a whole new set of players that didn’t exist before.”
He sees future growth in regional partnerships and regulatory convergence. “Partnerships will grow and strengthen. Investment will increase. And generally, it’s good for the overall gaming market,” he said. “A very positive step forward.”
While Thailand’s casino bill remains on hold, its potential passage looms large over the Southeast Asian gaming sector. For the Philippines, the challenge is two-fold: holding on to its market share while capitalising on improvements already in motion. For suppliers and operators alike, the future lies in readiness, not resistance.
As Spytma put it, “If the Philippines continues to have a pro-gaming environment that is stable, then the negative impact will be minimised.”
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