According to Thailand’s Finance Ministry, up to 90% of visitors to a proposed casino entertainment complex will be locals. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Thailand hopes new casino will attract locals

Las Vegas has become synonymous with gambling, and soon Thailand may join the same ranks. But don’t expect people from Las Vegas to flock to Thailand’s proposed entertainment complex project, which includes a casino. According to the country’s Finance Ministry, up to 90% of customers are expected to be locals.

the push to establish a casino in Thailand has powerful allies in a special House committee

Those numbers depend, of course, on whether a casino can, in fact, be established in Thailand. The draft law for the entertainment complex needs to pass public hearings. Fortunately, the push to establish a casino in Thailand has powerful allies in a special House committee, which is chaired by caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat.

In addition, former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed he wants gaming complexes launched by 2029. In addition, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the newest—and youngest ever—female PM, held a press conference highlighting the benefits of legal gambling, such as the much-touted boost the industry gives to the local economy.

Data shows 90% of gamblers are locals

The special House committee conducted a study into the proposed entertainment complex, leading to the ministry drafting the law. Results show that a minimum of 10% of the country’s population engage in casino gambling, of which 90% are local residents and 10% are foreign tourists. Based on 2022 population statistics for those aged 18 to 75—and who are not national welfare cardholders—the study estimates 37 million Thai residents are potential visitors to the casino.

the minimum estimate of 3.7 million Thai gamblers appears feasible”

Using statistics from Macau, the Bangkok Post reports: “the 10% figure for the target population (both locals and foreigners) engaging in casino gambling would be 4.8 million in 2022, according to the committee. Of this group, 1.1 million would be foreigners and 3.7 million would be Thai residents. The minimum estimate of 3.7 million Thai gamblers appears feasible, as data on gambling behaviour in 2021 revealed 4.48 million Thais engaged in card gambling, according to a Finance Ministry source who requested anonymity.”

The Bangkok Post’s source said that based on these statistics, “it is expected that once casinos open in Thailand, some Thai gamblers who previously travelled to neighboring countries to gamble would instead play at local casinos.”