Thailand’s Casino Complex: 90% of Patrons Expected to be Locals

[Hockeybik]

Wouldn't it be a logical question to ask where this casino complex might be located? If the location hasn't yet been determined, maybe the reporter could find out what areas are being considered. 

[newnative]

I don't believe for a minute that 90% will be Thai gamblers--certainly not if the casino is in Pattaya.

[rovinman]

On 8/26/2024 at 10:43 AM, Will B Good said:

 

 

Maybe I dreamt it..... wasn't this one of the original prerequisites for casinos getting the go ahead ...

 

........'No Thais allowed....foreigners only'?

 

Yes it was  !

The same as Singapore, who ban the locals from Gambling  !
Marina Bay Sands Casino, paid for itself in just over 1 year  !

And Singapore has been winning ever since  !

[Will B Good]

Just now, rovinman said:

 

Yes it was  !

The same as Singapore, who ban the locals from Gambling  !
Marina Bay Sands Casino, paid for itself in just over 1 year  !

And Singapore has been winning ever since  !

 

I thought so...cheers.

 

I remember (I think) quite a buzz in Pattaya about getting a casino .....1998/1999?.....and the locals being distraught that you would have to present a non-Thai passport to get in.

[lordgrinz]

Like I said with the Cannabis ordeal, the last thing Thailand needs are more vices, especially this one.....too many Thai's already gamble away their futures, this will severely effect the poor more than any others. If you want to see Thailand sink even quicker into the Abyss, add Casinos. 

[Trippy]

19 hours ago, newnative said:

I don't believe for a minute that 90% will be Thai gamblers--certainly not if the casino is in Pattaya.

The last I heard they wanted to put the first casino near the Myanmar border. Not Bangkok, or Pattaya or even Phuket. Doesn't make any sense, but this is amazing Thailand.

[newnative]

11 minutes ago, Trippy said:

The last I heard they wanted to put the first casino near the Myanmar border. Not Bangkok, or Pattaya or even Phuket. Doesn't make any sense, but this is amazing Thailand.

      You're right.  Makes no sense. 

[Trippy]

42 minutes ago, newnative said:

      You're right.  Makes no sense. 

But it explains the 90% Thai customer expectation as in the OP.

[elzach]

This is simply another, not well thought out (surprise), measure to bring in more Chinese tourists. And they'll pray at the local spirit house (san phra phum) that the extras don't come (Chinese crime, Chinese gangs etc.).

[orang37]

I’ve been to a few places where locals are the main audience, like in Cambodia, and it creates a different vibe, more laid back compared to the touristy casinos in Macau. I just hope they keep the regulations tight and avoid the issues that come with quick expansion.

 

When I first started playing, I’d travel around Southeast Asia to find decent spots, and I saw a lot of Thais gambling in neighboring countries. If they have a solid place at home now, it might actually cut down on some of that cross-border stuff.

 

If you’re considering checking out other casinos or just curious about promotions, I’d recommend browsing through https://casinobonusco.com/no-deposit-casino-codes/. I’ve found some good deals there, especially if you’re into no-deposit bonuses.

[LarryChenard]

On 8/26/2024 at 6:12 AM, webfact said:

File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

Thailand is poised to move forward with an ambitious entertainment complex project that includes a casino. According to the Finance Ministry, the majority of the casino’s patrons—up to 90%—are expected to be Thai locals. Public hearings are ongoing for the draft law governing this new venture, fulfilling constitutional requirements.

 

Heading the initiative is caretaker Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat. A special House committee under his leadership has studied the feasibility and submitted its findings to the Cabinet, prompting the Finance Ministry to draft the necessary legislation.

 

The study draws parallels with Macau, where casino gambling attracts at least 10% of the population, primarily locals. Applying this metric to Thailand, the committee projects that 37 million Thai residents could be potential casino visitors.

 

The situation is different for online casinos. Players often look for favorable offers and bonuses on https://kaszinoworld.com/ and try to play there. It seems that this online sphere is currently the leader among all others.

 

With 11 million foreign tourists in Thailand in 2022, the committee anticipates a combined figure of 4.8 million potential gamblers, of which 3.7 million would be Thai residents.

 

These projections appear realistic. According to a Finance Ministry source, 4.48 million Thais engaged in card gambling in 2021. It's anticipated that some of these Thai gamblers, who previously ventured to neighboring countries, would instead patronize local casinos once they open.

 

The draft law assigns significant authority to the prime minister, who will enforce the law, and to the Entertainment Complex Policy Committee, chaired by the prime minister, which will manage complex-related policies.

 

Companies seeking a concession must be either limited or public limited companies with at least 10 billion baht in registered capital. Each licence will have a 30-year validity, renewable for additional 10-year terms, and feature a 5 billion baht fee and an annual 1 billion baht renewal cost.

 

For Thai patrons, the entrance fee to the casino will be capped at 5,000 baht per person, according to a Bangkok Post report. Thus, the project stands as a significant economic gamble with high-stakes expectations.

 

-- 2024-08-26

 

 

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It’s interesting to see Thailand moving forward with plans for a large-scale entertainment complex that includes a casino. The projections seem bold, especially with the expectation that 90% of the patrons will be Thai locals. Comparing it to Macau's model is intriguing, and it makes sense that the government would want to retain the local gambling market that currently goes abroad. The high fees for companies applying for concessions and for Thai residents to enter the casino indicate this project is aimed at both high revenue and controlled access. It’ll be worth watching how the public responds and how this develops economically.

[Hunz Kittisak]

On 8/28/2024 at 10:40 AM, rovinman said:

 

Yes it was  !

The same as Singapore, who ban the locals from Gambling  !
Marina Bay Sands Casino, paid for itself in just over 1 year  !

And Singapore has been winning ever since  !

Singapore doesn’t ban the locals they impose a USD100 entry fee for 24 hours. 
South Korea ban their locals though. 
I say both ways are good

[MarkBR]

On 8/27/2024 at 1:11 PM, Hockeybik said:

Wouldn't it be a logical question to ask where this casino complex might be located? If the location hasn't yet been determined, maybe the reporter could find out what areas are being considered. 

I bet it will be with good access for Chinese gamblers via airports.