The government of Thailand proposed a new casino legislation bill that aims to see it oversee the allocation of casino-entertainment complexes.
As per the report issued by Bangkok Post, this centralized legislation will ensure a fair bidding procedure among investors, thus preventing any potential bias that may occur in the case someone attempts to use their own land for projects.
According to the report, by delegating the responsibility of choosing locations to an authorized government committee, the legislation aims to create a valid framework for all investors and participants.
Moreover, as per the bill, the committee will also have the task of determining the number of land-based casino complexes allowed across the nation of Thailand. As soon as these decisions are finalized, the government proposals will be presented to the cabinet for further approval.
The Thai government is in the process of pushing the casino bill, with a public hearing scheduled to be completed in August 2025. The Thai Ministry of Finance expects to submit the final draft to the cabinet by the end of the year, followed by feedback from the stakeholders.
The casino bill includes 65 sections that determine operational requirements, including age restrictions, licensing terms, and potential fees. The validity of the licenses will be up to 30 years and will require an initial deposit of THB5 billion (€139.8 million), along with a fee of THB1 billion (€27.9 million).
Once the initial period is over, the licenses can be renewed for another decade.
The government also created a policy board that is overlooked by the Prime Minister of the country, with the task of regulating these casino complexes. One of the tasks of the board will be to formulate rules and monitor compliance.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals under the age of 20 will be banned from entering the complexes, with Thai citizens being obliged to pay an entrance fee of THB5,000 (€140), while foreigners will have free and unrestricted access.
