Thai govt. meets Wynn and MGM officials as casino plans advance
Thailand is stepping up its push to legalise casino resorts, with senior government officials confirming meetings with some of the world’s biggest gambling operators, including Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International.
According to the Bangkok Post, preliminary talks have already taken place with executives from both Wynn and MGM, marking a key step forward in Thailand’s ambition to develop so-called “entertainment complexes” featuring casinos. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, who is overseeing the initiative, said more than four major foreign investors have already scheduled discussions with the Thai authorities.
Several images of Julapun (left in the above image) meeting with representatives from Wynn Resorts have surfaced on social media. Similar photos surfaced on 19 May 2025, showing Ed Bowers, President of Global Development at MGM Resorts, attending what was reported to be a meeting with Julapun.
More casino operators to meet soon
Julapun said additional meetings are expected soon, though he did not name the other two operators involved. He noted that Thailand was now “clearly signalling” its openness to discussions with international investors as the government moves forward with drafting legislation to regulate the industry.
The Thai government aims to attract more than THB 100 billion (€2.77 billion) in investment per casino-integrated resort. A draft version of the bill, seen in December, outlines that each entertainment complex would require a minimum investment of THB 100 billion.
Julapun emphasised that Thailand is not seeking deals with “small or unprepared” investors. Instead, it wants well-established firms capable of meeting rigorous regulatory standards, including strong controls to prevent gambling addiction and money laundering.
Wynn and MGM express bliss
Both Wynn and MGM have responded positively to Thailand’s proposed legal framework. Wynn Resorts, which owns casino operations in Macau and is developing a $4.6 billion (€4.23 billion) resort in the United Arab Emirates, is expected to enter the Thai market through its parent company. Meanwhile, MGM may operate in Thailand via MGM China, its majority-owned Macau subsidiary.
Ed Bowers, who met with Thai officials this week, is also leading MGM’s JPY 1.27 trillion (€8.07 billion) integrated resort project in Osaka, Japan, due to open in 2030. The push to legalise casinos has not been without domestic criticism. Earlier this month, the governor of the Bank of Thailand warned that casinos could damage the country’s reputation by reinforcing perceptions of a “grey” economy.
In response, Julapun defended the initiative, pointing to countries like the United States, Singapore, and Japan, which operate legal casinos under strict regulatory oversight. The government hopes to break ground on the first casino-resort development within three years.
