Casinos for Wealthy: New Thai Bill Sparks Controversy

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Freepik

 

In a striking development, Thailand's proposed legislation is poised to transform the casino landscape, potentially restricting entry exclusively to the nation's wealthiest citizens. A government insider has revealed that only Thai nationals with a minimum of 50 million baht in a fixed deposit for at least six months may gain access to the country's forthcoming casino-entertainment complex.

 

This stipulation is embedded within Section 65 of the Entertainment Complex Bill, which the Council of State (CoS) has scrutinised, with cabinet review anticipated on March 11. Additionally, prospective patrons must pre-register and pay an entrance fee to gain admission, further constraining access.

 

These measures have raised concerns among government officials, with some warning that this could undermine efforts to revitalise the economy. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat has criticised the proposal, suggesting it clashes with the government's strategy of economic stimulation and foreign investment attraction. He warns that such restrictions may inadvertently backfire, driving local gamblers towards illegal venues or cross-border casinos.

 

Other provisions within the bill offer further oversight and regulation to encourage responsible gambling. For instance, Section 59 places gambling activities within entertainment complexes under the bill's purview, diverging from existing anti-gambling laws. Meanwhile, Section 63 mandates identity verification for all visitors through passport or ID card checks, reinforcing security protocols.

Importantly, the bill also tackles online gambling. Sections 61 and 62 explicitly prohibit live-streaming of gambling activities and other online gambling forms, curbing virtual participation from outside the casino's physical premises.

 

Pakorn Nilprapunt, secretary-general of the CoS, previously noted that the wealth threshold intended to moderate gambling participation may alienate the majority of the populace. With this framework, gambling would be an exclusive privilege of the financially elite.

 

The CoS returned the bill to the government on February 28 for further refinement. As the matter awaits the cabinet's decision, Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed scepticism, hinting at possible cabinet rejection unless adjustments accommodate broader public interest.

 

This proposed casino entry condition presents underlying tensions between promoting a thriving economy and safeguarding citizens' interests against gambling's societal impacts. As the discourse progresses, Thailand finds itself at a critical juncture, balancing fiscal growth and ethical considerations, reported Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-03-03

 

 

[MikeandDow]

What a joke !!!

[lordgrinz]

Thai's throughout the country are addicted to gambling, telling them they can't gamble in their own countries Casinos is not going to go down well.

[bkk6060]

Very stupid.   I guess they think it will keep away stinky bums who will steal, urinate, and generally cause problems. 

[quake]

15 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Very stupid.   I guess they think it will keep away stinky bums who will steal, urinate, and generally cause problems. 

 

Nah,  the Russians will be welcome. 

[redwood1]

50 million or a 100 baht bribe should get Somchi into the Casinos....

[KireB]

23 minutes ago, quake said:

 

Nah,  the Russians will be welcome. 

Racist slur again?

[connda]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

In a striking development, Thailand's proposed legislation is poised to transform the casino landscape, potentially restricting entry exclusively to the nation's wealthiest citizens. A government insider has revealed that only Thai nationals with a minimum of 50 million baht in a fixed deposit for at least six months may gain access to the country's forthcoming casino-entertainment complex.

Casinos by the wealthy, for the wealthy. 

No doubt the Thai vice squads will be doubling down on enforcing gambling bans and busting the participants of village cock fights while the Thai elite spin the roulette wheel, and wile the night away playing Baccarat and sipping Glenlivet Winchester 50 year old Scotch into the wee hours of the morning as commoners are busted for drinking Kao Lao after hours.

[lordgrinz]

42 minutes ago, connda said:

Casinos by the wealthy, for the wealthy. 

No doubt the Thai vice squads will be doubling down on enforcing gambling bans and busting the participants of village cock fights while the Thai elite spin the roulette wheel, and wile the night away playing Baccarat and sipping Glenlivet Winchester 50 year old Scotch into the wee hours of the morning as commoners are busted for drinking Kao Lao after hours.

 

Rules for thee, not for me......TIT

[Gaccha]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

only Thai nationals with a minimum of 50 million baht in a fixed deposit for at least six months

 

This was already revealed several weeks ago. We even have had feedback from major casinos about this high deposit threshold. 

 

It is obvious that the big casinos, The ones you see in las Vegas or Macau will be extremely reluctant to invest since there just will not be enough footfall.

 

Instead, the same dodgy casinos you can find on the border with Cambodia or in the Three Diamond area of Lao or just in Burma. This all but ensures corruption and criminality.

[apetley]

If 50 million in your bank account is the minimum for entry some may suspect these proposed casino's will be little more than money laundering operations for Thailand's wealthiest. I couldn't possibly comment.

[Stocky]

Singapore citizens and permanent residents need to pay SGD150 (Bht 3,750) to enter the casinos in Singapore, there's no entry fee for foreigners. This is eminently more sensible, workable  and enforceable than having to declare assets in the bank.

[lordgrinz]

9 minutes ago, Gaccha said:

 

This was already revealed several weeks ago. We even have had feedback from major casinos about this high deposit threshold. 

 

It is obvious that the big casinos, The ones you see in las Vegas or Macau will be extremely reluctant to invest since there just will not be enough footfall.

 

Instead, the same dodgy casinos you can find on the border with Cambodia or in the Three Diamond area of Lao or just in Burma. This all but ensures corruption and criminality.

 

Yeah, I still don't get it, they don't make money off the high rollers, they make their money off huge numbers of poor people losing their shirts every month.

[phil2407]

Personally I don’t have 50 million baht & not Thai but if they want to gamble they will do it hook or by crook 

would make more sense to let them gamble online but no credit 

[Dionigi]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

He warns that such restrictions may inadvertently backfire, driving local gamblers towards illegal venues or cross-border casinos.

This is exactly what they have now so what will be different. Casinos are for people to lose money better the rich than the poor.

[thesetat]

6 hours ago, apetley said:

If 50 million in your bank account is the minimum for entry some may suspect these proposed casino's will be little more than money laundering operations for Thailand's wealthiest. I couldn't possibly comment.

It is only a requirement to Thai people. Not to foreigners. You can get in the casino with your pittance to lose. They will gladly accept it. 

[Nickcage49]

Those casinos will go broke very quickly. You can't depend on the rich to fund casinos. They didn't get rich by being stupid and gambling their money away.

 

This is so typical of Thai narrow-minded thinking and idiot bureaucrats. 

 

If you're going to have casinos, make them open to all. There should be no entrance fees (a stupid idea that I've never seen before) and no need to prove how much money you have. Casinos are happy to take anyone's money.

 

If they want Chinese tourists, they'll do what I have stated above. So maybe they shouldn't, lol