Thailand has revised its draft casino legislation to drop the strict financial deposit requirement and instead allow Thai nationals with a three-year tax history to enter planned casinos. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat explained that the original plan, requiring citizens to hold a fixed deposit of at least 50 million baht (USD $1.5 million) for six months, would have excluded more than 99% of the population and failed to curb illegal gambling.
While maintaining a 5,000 baht casino entry fee for Thai nationals, the revised draft seeks to broaden local participation and enhance the appeal of legalized casinos. The government aims to submit the legislation to the cabinet by March 11, hoping it will attract 100 billion baht in new investment, boost foreign tourist numbers by 5% to 10%, and generate over 12 billion baht in annual revenue.
Despite strong public opposition and concerns that casinos could exacerbate social problems, the government views the gaming industry as a key economic driver, following trends in Southeast Asia, where countries like Singapore have attracted major global operators such as Las Vegas Sands Corp. If Thailand can balance economic goals with social responsibility, it could set a regional benchmark for a sustainable and inclusive gaming industry.