Thai state council undecided on size of potential casinos

Neha Soni January 30, 2025

SiGMA news

Thai state council undecided on size of potential casinos

The Council of State (CoS) has not yet determined on how much space will be allocated for casinos in each entertainment complex.

This comes as Thailand is abuzz with discussions as the government moves forward with plans to legalise casinos within large-scale entertainment complexes. The proposed legislation allows for up to five integrated casino resorts, with Bangkok emerging as a key location for multiple venues.

CoS secretary-general Pakorn Nilprapunt said that while the matter of how much space will be allocated for casinos in each entertainment complex has been discussed on four occasions, a conclusion is yet to be made.

The Finance Ministry proposed the Entertainment Complex Business Bill to the Cabinet earlier this month. Deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat said that only 10 percent of the complex will be allocated to the casino. However, the bill may not include the ratio as it could make the law unsuitable for future economic situations.

Each licence would span an initial 30-year period, with a potential 10-year extension, requiring a minimum investment of THB 100 billion (€2.65 billion) per resort.

A policy panel led by the prime minister and a regulatory agency will be responsible for overseeing the development and operation of casinos once they are legalised.

Bangkok Port could be an ideal location

Thailand’s Transport Minister, Suriya Jungrungreangkit, has recently suggested that the Bangkok Port could be an ideal location for an entertainment complex with a casino. Jungrungreangkit cited the large land area, river views, and potential for converting the port into a marina as reasons for considering this site.

While Bangkok Port has been proposed as a viable site, other locations, such as Laem Chabang and Pattaya, are also being considered. However, Jungrungreangkit has noted that the ultimate decision on location will lie with the national committee and not with the transport ministry. This committee will be deciding on all matters related to the casino bill, including location selection and regulation enforcement.

Recently, the Thai government set a mid-April deadline for the approval of its draft casino bill, currently under review by the Council of State. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat confirmed this week that the bill is expected to progress to the House of Representatives for consideration before the current parliamentary session ends in mid-April.

Speaking after a recent meeting with the Council of State, Julapun described the discussions as productive, noting that the council provided valuable legal perspectives and feedback on the proposed legislation.

Julapun also highlighted the importance of ensuring the bill’s vision remains intact during future discussions. To this end, he has proposed that representatives from the executive branch join these deliberations. Two deputy secretaries to the Prime Minister have already been appointed to support this process.

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