6 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Ever been to Las Vegas?

 

Nope.

On 3/14/2025 at 2:09 AM, VBF said:

If they build in Chonburi, perhaps the hordes of Chinese in Pattaya will go there instead?

Maybe build near to Utapao and let flights from China use it?

 

Most logical location is  near Utapao. This can easily handle junket charters from China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Pattaya  as a destination is already set up for this  type of visitor and this would be a good way of slowly easing away from cheap sex tourism to  a different type of exploitation.

 

On 3/14/2025 at 2:28 AM, Tom100 said:

In my daily bike rides i have seen that Chiang Mai has at least 3 very large hotels that have been closed since covid that would be suitable for a gaming complex.

1) Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel

2) Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel

3) A large hotel less than 1 km NW of Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel on the road between the old city and Maya Mall

 

Reopening these huge hotels would create a lot of jobs...although any money lost by locals would partly offset that economic benefit

 

 

The hotels would need major retrofits. More cost effective to demolish and  rebuild.

 

On 3/14/2025 at 2:49 AM, connda said:

Drive down Thapae Road and witness results of the 2020 virus scare fiasco which ended up closing down all of the "non-essential business" that have never recovered.  Shuttered storefronts galore.  "Rose of the North."  Right! 

 

There are shuttered storefronts everywhere and not just in Thailand. The businesses were in trouble before Covid and all that Covid did was to  speed up their inevitable closing.  How many crappy souvenir shops or bad restaurants can a place support? How many of those shops were selling mobile phones, or were tour agencies?

 

 

On 3/14/2025 at 3:01 AM, JimHuaHin said:

Hua Hin not listed .... thankfully.

 

The presence of the Royal palace  and the demographics of the region  preclude it. Hua Hin attracts the middle and upper tier demographic of Bangkok. It is family focused. The foreign visitors are somewhat different than elsewhere in Thailand, and are less likely to support a casino. It's more of an active crowd, even if older. A golf or tennis or hiking development, is more likely to succeed.

Last Vegas gets 45% of profits from gambling.

Macau gets 85% of profits from gambling...The Chinese are fierce gamblers.

The Chiang Mai casino hotel has been under construction for more than 5 years. They have not been in a rush to complete as they have been waiting for the politicians to get 'the paperwork' done. It is an open secret around here (on the river, just south of the outer ring road).

 

My wife's first job 35 years ago was receptionist in the CM casino. She has many tales.

On 3/14/2025 at 4:46 PM, Iron Tongue said:

Wonderful.  Instead of one, Thailand wants four separate Casino complexes at the same time.  

Gee, I wonder where the financing will come from?

I don't think Thailand will be recognizable in 10 years.

All you gotta do is look on youtube and see  what the  chinese and their casnos have done to what was  a quiet little seaside village with hostels and restuarants / bars along   the beachfront. Now totally destroyed !!!!!l .

Regarding the casinos in Singapore you have to prove that you are a foreigner to get in and they copy your passport .Government regulation.

Was on Soi Nana yesterday. One of the bars has been converted into 'Casino' - not open yet of course, and no windows (the outside looked a bit like some American bars/taverns - just the name of the place and a door). I wonder if the owner is also a weed seller looking for the latest get-rich-quick thing. And I wonder if this means these small casinos are going to pop up on each corner like the weed shops did.

On 3/14/2025 at 3:45 PM, newnative said:

The casino complexes are slated to have hotels, a large shopping mall, an amusement park, concert hall, and so on, as well as the casinos.  How would all that fit into the Avenue?

 

Isn't Pattaya just one big amusement park?

 

It also has hotels, and too many large shopping malls, as well as other amusement parks.

 

They don't have to be all in the same building.

On 3/16/2025 at 11:11 AM, wavodavo said:

Regarding the casinos in Singapore you have to prove that you are a foreigner to get in and they copy your passport .Government regulation.

 

Same in Ha Noi.

28 minutes ago, PattayaParent said:

 

Isn't Pattaya just one big amusement park?

 

It also has hotels, and too many large shopping malls, as well as other amusement parks.

 

They don't have to be all in the same building.

     I didn't say they all have to be in the same building.  The Avenue site, I believe, is on the small side for about any of the very large attractions that are planned for these complexes.  And, that area of Pattaya isn't that great--most of the new, nice development is being built in the northern part of the beach area. 

     As I pointed out, there are some large tracts of land near Hard Rock hotel, one with a big, now closed hotel and other closed retail, and some other land that is vacant or with temporary stuff on it.  These could possibly all be combined and the casino component incorporated into what is being planned for Aquatique.   As you pointed out, there are already two nice, big malls in place nearby--Central and T21.   

    The attraction to this area would be that it is already highly popular with tourists, with some very nice, new development already in place, including Centre Point Space, T21, the new Mytt, Grand Centre Point, Ozo, Akari, and others.  They join the other hotels already there, which are some of the nicest now in Pattaya, including Dusit, Holiday Inn, and Amari. Plus the massive Centre Point 3 resort now under construction, and Once Pattaya also going in, along with another highrise condo project.  This popularity, however, has led to gridlock traffic so I question the wisdom of putting the complex there without major road improvements, none of which is taking place.  

Being talking about for yrs in thailand,another airport in cnx still may happen too and who owns the land thakism.If they can control it then thais will not go to the borders and the money stays in the country.Who is in control of the country we all know that and  it may happen within the next 10 yrs 

On 3/13/2025 at 11:53 PM, sqwakvfr said:

Oh no. I just walked by there yesterday and the only thing that could offer a  glimmer of hope is to build a casino complex where KSK and the Lotus Hotel used to stand.  That propery has stood vaacnt now coming on 3 years and I really do not see anything else to build except for something like this.  The property would sell for a steep discount as well.  

And re-open the bowling alley!!

Listening to this song might give some persective to many Thai gamblers...

 

 

On 3/14/2025 at 9:16 PM, JJ-Thailand said:

Who will own these Casino Complexes? 

 

Influential Thais including the politicians of course.

Thailand is finally moving forward with this, and it'll be interesting to see how strict the rules will be for locals compared to tourists. If you're into online alternatives while waiting for these casino complexes to open, you might want to check out https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/nonukslotsites.uk for reviews on different platforms. Some sites have fewer restrictions and better bonuses than the usual options.

 

On 3/14/2025 at 2:08 PM, sqwakvfr said:

Oh joy exactly where in Chiang Mai could a casino/hotel complex be built?  Maybe near the airport? Guests can get off the plane and go straight to the tables.  I can see traffic from mainland China pickup when and if this happens.  Casino's can bring economic gains but a lot of bad things come with that.  Las Vegas is a facade in many ways.  Once you get off the stip the realities of life hit you in the face.  Lot of people who have lost a lot end up being homeless.  At least in the US the Native American tribes build their casno/hotel complexes on their lands which is a good distance from major cities.  

Nobody has to go.

1 hour ago, Harrisfan said:

Nobody has to go.

I guarantee people will go. In the beginnig it will be mostly out of curiosity.  Some will get hooked on the gambling side and some will just be curious as to what the experience will be like.  I can see tour packages for Chinese for gambling junkets.  Of course as time goes by the problems with casinos will bubble up.  Some of the nearby neighborhoods near the strip in Vegas are not places I would be at night.  

On 3/14/2025 at 3:02 AM, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia

 

The Thai government has taken a bold step forward, announcing plans to develop major entertainment complexes in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. This announcement comes amidst vocal public criticism, highlighting the country's strategy to stimulate tourism and economic growth through these ventures.

 

Nikom Boonwiset, vice-chairman of the special committee overseeing this ambitious project, revealed these plans on Thursday. As an influential MP from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, Mr. Nikom expressed optimism about the project, which is projected to cost a staggering 500 billion Thai Baht and attract upwards of 50 million tourists each year.

 

The proposed complexes are expected to generate approximately 40,000 new jobs, positioning Thailand as a sought-after destination for global tourists and business investments alike.

 

International investors have already begun to express keen interest, eyeing the vast potential of Thailand's entertainment industry. Mr. Nikom emphasised that each complex would include luxurious five-star hotels, bustling shopping malls, thrilling amusement parks, state-of-the-art sports arenas, and grand convention centres.

 

Although the inclusion of casinos has attracted significant attention, Mr. Nikom insists that less than 10% of each complex would be devoted to gambling, challenging public perceptions that the developments are predominantly casino-focused.

 

 

 

The Entertainment Complex Bill was slated for discussion in a recent cabinet meeting, but this was delayed due to an ongoing public feedback process managed by the Ministry of Finance.

 

Concerns from protest groups have necessitated a thorough review of public sentiment before proceeding. The feedback window remains open until Friday, after which revisions based on public opinion will be sent back to the cabinet.

 

Despite the positive outlook from policymakers, criticism persists. Thanakorn Khomkrit, secretary-general of the Stop Gambling Foundation, has openly criticised the bill, citing loopholes and insufficient preventative measures against youth gambling.

 

Mr. Thanakorn highlights the ambiguity surrounding casino regulations, such as the number of establishments, gambling space proportions, licensing fees, and tax rates.

 

Additionally, the bill's allowance for 'other businesses' within casino complexes has sparked fear of potential money laundering through intermediary services known as junket operations. Such concerns underscore the need for clear, robust regulations to safeguard the integrity of Thailand’s financial landscape.

 

As the Entertainment Complex Bill continues to evolve, Thailand faces a critical juncture. The country stands on the brink of a transformative era in tourism and entertainment, but how it navigates these opportunities and challenges will determine its ultimate success, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-14

 

 

 

 

If they build in Chonburi, perhaps the hordes of Chinese in Pattaya will go there instead? Maybe build near Utapao and let flights from China use it?

 

On 3/14/2025 at 7:32 AM, webfact said:

The proposed complexes are expected to generate approximately 40,000 new jobs (...)

 

So, will they staff them with migrant workers?

(I mean, considering the, officially, very low unemployment rate in Thailand...)