Thailand Greenlights Entertainment Complex Bill with 10% Casino Space Restriction

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Tsogo Sun

 

The Cabinet has greenlit the game-changing Entertainment Complex Bill. This new legislation puts strict limits on casino floor sizes, allowing them to occupy only 10% of the entertainment venue's total area.

 

The brainchild of the Finance Ministry, this bill aims to turbocharge Thailand’s economy while keeping social issues in check.

 

During the bill's revision by the Council of State, the focus was on balancing economic and social interests. Four public hearings led to a massive thumbs-up from the majority, with 80% of the 71,289 participants backing this legislation. With Cabinet approval in the bag, the bill now awaits thumbs from the House of Representatives.

 

So, what’s inside this shiny new bill? Well, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister are set to co-pilot the law’s delivery.

 

The policy regarding the operations and locations of these entertainment hubs will be closely monitored by a dedicated committee. This committee not only lays down frameworks but also appoints key personnel to oversee operations.

 

 

 

In an interesting twist, public voices will play a critical role, as residents near proposed sites get a say through public hearings.

 

The bill also lays down strict rules for casinos, treating them like financial institutions under money laundering laws. It’s not just a blanket gamble-free-for-all, as Thai nationals must meet a 50 million baht deposit rule before they set foot inside.

 

Licensees are heavily policed, with strong penalties lined up for non-compliance. They've been warned against luring extra gamblers or cranking up betting amounts. New criminal cock-ups like organising online gambling or live-streaming casino actions are now big no-no's.

 

Overall, the government is keen to spin these entertainment complexes as more than just betting dens. It's a master plan to usher in a new era of economic sparkle while keeping the social order in check.

 

Based on a story by The Nation

 

-- 2025-03-27

 

 

[jacnl2000]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

It's a master plan to usher in a new era of economic sparkle while keeping the social order in check.

 

From the perspective of the current global economic pecking order, it may not yet resemble a master plan—more like a quick money grab. I genuinely believe many will profit during its development phase, but casinos alone won’t reshape the existing global hierarchy. It reminds me of another similar business model: FIFA. Gianni Infantino will always come out on top. Strategically, much like casinos, it follows simple, inevitable computational outcomes—something investors appreciate. I’ve seen some rather strange yet deliberate ways of keeping social order in check—chief among them, underpaid workers. I know it’s complicated; we’re all just doing our best.

[quake]

Go there Thailand.

Welcome to the 21st century.

Good job. 

 

[BrandonJT]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

It’s not just a blanket gamble-free-for-all, as Thai nationals must meet a 50 million baht deposit rule before they set foot inside.

Wasn't the whole point of legalizing gambling/casinos to get regulations in place on the industry and bring the money from the streets into the casinos so it could be taxed?  This law will not change the gambling that goes on in Thailand through illegal online casinos and gambling dens even one tiny bit.

[smedly]

watch the crime rate go up as if it isn't bad enough, thailand is not ready for this

[Gsxrnz]

I wonder how high the bidding went to get appointed to the committee. 

[VincentRJ]

The love of money is the root of all evil. Don't Buddhists understand this? 😒

[TheAppletons]

Interesting that the casino space restriction increased from 5% to 10%.

 

https://agbrief.com/news/thailand/14/05/2024/thai-government-considers-imposing-5-limit-on-casino-space-in-entertainment-complexes/

[henryford1958]

The Mercedes dealers will be rubbing their hands.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

The Cabinet has greenlit the game-changing Entertainment Complex Bill. This new legislation puts strict limits on casino floor sizes, allowing them to occupy only 10% of the entertainment venue's total area.

Forcing it through and not giving the public a deserved referendum vote

[spidermike007]

This is a very bad idea for a number of reasons, and I don't have anything against casinos in general. Number one the Chinese government has explicitly warmed Thailand, and the small gal that they will and discourage their citizens from visiting the country if there are casinos. Number two successive governments tend to change and there is a chance that this plan will be withdrawn later with a successive administration, leaving many casinos completely abandoned, which happened in next door Sihanoukville, and it was absolutely tragic. 

 

 

[GreasyFingers]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

occupy only 10% of the entertainment venue's total area.

 

So car parking, utility spaces etc are to be part of the 10% as well as multiple floors of entertainment. It is going to be a big casino.

[GreasyFingers]

7 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

which happened in next door Sihanoukville, and it was absolutely tragic. 

 

Have not been there over 10 years and liked the place. Your pictures are truly tragic compared to what was there back then.

[kuzmabruk]

For example MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  
 

MGM Grand in Las Vegas has over 5,000 rooms, and while exact room sizes vary depending on the room type, the average room size is approximately 400–500 square feet, which totals 2,250,000 sqft of hotel rooms and they have 171,500 sqft of casino floor.   
 

7% for casino - not including the lobbies and shopping arcade.   
 

10% is enormous 

[Boedog]

What could possibly go wrong, the corrupt politians get richer the poor get poorer, crime and homelessness goes through the roof, if only the politicians cared about the people as much as they do as lining there own pockets

[BrandonJT]

1 hour ago, Boedog said:

What could possibly go wrong, the corrupt politians get richer the poor get poorer, crime and homelessness goes through the roof, if only the politicians cared about the people as much as they do as lining there own pockets

How are the poor going to get poorer? They won't be allowed within 10 km of these places.  50 million baht bank balance required.

[lordgrinz]

1 hour ago, BrandonJT said:

How are the poor going to get poorer? They won't be allowed within 10 km of these places.  50 million baht bank balance required.

 

TIT.....rules, laws, regulations mean nothing here.

[Purdey]

This is Thailand. There will be ways that Thais will get in. Famous gamblers like "Chat Taopoon" who owns his own casinos, will not be banned. 

This is great for skimming off licenses and construction contracts.

[wensiensheng]

“ New criminal cock-ups like organising online gambling or live-streaming casino actions are now big no-no's.”

 

I think I am right in saying these are currently illegal. Now they are being moved up to big no no status?

[Elkski]

50 Mil in deposit?  I think it's crazy.  Create these ultra exclusive places where the low paying can work and observe but only the super wealthy can enjoy.   Pretty normal I guess.   I can't imagine this being a good thing at all.  Lots of tourists broke and can't afford their flight home.   May create some new walking streets. 

[watchcat]

On 3/28/2025 at 1:05 AM, VincentRJ said:

The love of money is the root of all evil. Don't Buddhists understand this? 😒

 

The people with too much m0ney are not Buddhists.

[BrandonJT]

19 hours ago, Elkski said:

50 Mil in deposit?  I think it's crazy.  Create these ultra exclusive places where the low paying can work and observe but only the super wealthy can enjoy.   Pretty normal I guess.   I can't imagine this being a good thing at all.  Lots of tourists broke and can't afford their flight home.   May create some new walking streets. 

Don't worry, if that starts to happen they'll start requiring you to show your plane ticket out of Thailand in order to enter.

[node]

Many moons ago I was a gambler. I gambled all over.  USA : Canada : UK : Netherlands : Singapore: Australia. I lose big, and won big as well. I was not a weekend or cruise ship gambler, I went all out.

But one think I did, was always  gambled where the returns are high. 

I would advise same. Why gamble in a country where the money is just 34 Baht to $1 or even less Euro, unless you really not a gambler and just having fun. Also if you win big, I mean big, you cannot get the money out. Seems stupid to me.

[node]

In a casino you ever wondered why there are no windows, so one cannot keep the track of time. You ever wonder why when you are there you do not feel sleepy, because they pump oxygen below each table. 

If you take the casino big that day, they will see you sit there for 6-8 hours winning and have not left. They will offer you food, a room to rest, and hopefully they will win you the next day you are awake, because they see you are a gambler.

[node]

Thais generally like gambling, and this would bring poverty to many in this nation. 

St.Marteen / Curacao in the Caribbean used to only allowed their citizens to frequency their casinos once or twice per month; but people found ways to get around this by forming groups for the days they are not allowed in.

This will back fire like weed did in Thailand, where they found youths addicted. Again, only seeing the bottom line, tourist and money.

Good luck Thailand.

[watchcat]

On 3/28/2025 at 1:05 AM, VincentRJ said:

The love of money is the root of all evil. Don't Buddhists understand this? 😒

 

Indeed.  But a normal thai isn't a buddhist its mostly a show off.

[watchcat]

On 3/27/2025 at 8:25 AM, webfact said:

The Cabinet has greenlit the game-changing Entertainment Complex Bill. This new legislation puts strict limits on casino floor sizes, allowing them to occupy only 10% of the entertainment venue's total area.

 And the rest 80%  for poledancers, hookers, daycare centers at evening though?