In a significant policy shift aimed at broadening participation in its emerging gaming industry, Thailand has scrapped plans to limit casino access only to citizens with fixed deposits of at least 50 million baht (roughly $1.5 million).
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced Monday that the draft law will now permit Thai nationals with a three-year tax history to enter casinos, replacing the stringent asset criterion that would have excluded over 70 million people.
“This criteria would not be able to solve illegal gambling,” Amornvivat told reporters, adding that only about 10,000 deposit accounts in the country currently exceed 50 million baht. The revised measure is seen as a necessary step to ensure that the booming domestic market can serve as a major draw for foreign investors.
Under the proposed law, a casino entry fee of 5,000 baht remains intact. The draft legislation, which aims to transform Thailand into one of the world’s largest gambling destinations, will soon be submitted to the cabinet for approval and then forwarded to parliament before the current session ends on April 11.
Thailand already permits gambling on state-controlled horse racing, the lottery, and select sports such as boxing, while other forms of betting remain illegal despite widespread illicit activities. A Citi report late last year estimated that nearly half of Thais aged 20 and above could become casino players, potentially propelling the nation to become the world’s third-largest gambling hub.
The government projects that the revamped casino law could attract at least 100 billion baht in new investment, boost foreign visitor numbers by 5 to 10 percent, and generate annual revenues exceeding 12 billion baht. However, the plan faces domestic opposition; a January opinion poll indicated that most Thais are against the casino proposal, with several political parties warning that a gambling industry might exacerbate existing social problems.
As Thailand navigates these changes, the government remains focused on balancing economic growth with social stability, hoping that a more inclusive approach to casino access will unlock substantial investment and tourism opportunities.
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Two construction workers were critically injured Friday when suspected World War II-era ordnance exploded at a site near Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, police said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Qatar on Sunday to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties and coordinate on key regional matters, continuing the momentum from recent diplomatic exchanges.
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The Syrian Ministry of Defense on Thursday accused Hezbollah militias of firing artillery shells from Lebanese territory toward Syrian army positions in the al-Qusayr area west of Homs.
A massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in southern Iran on Saturday killed at least four people and injured nearly 600 others, officials said, prompting an urgent government investigation.
Saudi Arabia on Friday unveiled its annual report highlighting the Kingdom’s advancements toward achieving the ambitious goals of Vision 2030 during the year 2024.
Two construction workers were critically injured Friday when suspected World War II-era ordnance exploded at a site near Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, police said.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is set to visit Qatar on Sunday to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties and coordinate on key regional matters, continuing the momentum from recent diplomatic exchanges.
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