Thailand has dropped the planned requirement for locals to have assets of at least $1.5 million to enter its potential future casinos as it would exclude too many people.
According to Reuters, the Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said on Monday (March 2) that the draft law now instead proposes that Thai nationals simply need to have a three-year tax history to be able to enter the casinos.
It was noted that only 10,000 deposit accounts in the country hold more than 50 million baht (the equivalent of $1.5 million).
“That means more than 70 million people won’t be able to enter casinos,” Amornvivat is reported to have said.
While this access criteria has been dropped, there is still an entry fee, which remains in the draft. The proposed amount is 5,000 baht which is roughly $147.
Fate of casino plan to be decided on this month in Thailand
The casino bill in Thailand could see Singapore-style entertainment complexes be introduced into the country – with these housing casinos, hotels, conference centers, and more.
The original draft bill proposes a total of five casino resorts at locations around the country.
The plan comes at a time when gambling is largely illegal in the country, aside from state-controlled horse races and an official lottery, along with some sports such as boxing.
In January 2025, the bill in principle was approved by the Cabinet and a final draft will be ready for approval this month. If it is approved, it will be put forward to parliament.
Not everyone is happy with the proposed plans as there has been some controversy over the proposed plans. A protest involving three groups even took place on Sunday (March 2).
Members of the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform, the Dharma Army, and the Centre of People for Monarchy Protection all gathered outside the Government House to campaign against the casino bill.
A large crowd of people could be seen holding signs, with some simply stating ‘no casino.’
Featured Image: Via Mathias Krumbholz on Wikimedia Commons
