Internet Casino

[J_Max8]

Hi there!

I just became a member in here and just want to say thanks to you all for a great forum!!

I do know that some gambling is illegal in Thailand but anyway, I don´t know what is illegal and what is not... Hope someone here can help me out a little bit here:)

I´m thinking about the possibility to set up a server for an internetcasino in Thailand.

1. Is it legal to run an internetcasino in Thailand?

2. Do you have to have a licens for that?

3. What authority is it who issue the licens?

4. What is the cost of the licens?

5. Do you need to block gambler from/in Thailand?

Thanks in advance!

//J_Max

[simon43]

Hi J_Max8, I would say that it is highly illegal to set up a server in Thailand to provide internet casino services! The goverment works hard to crack down on any form of gambling.

Why would you want to set up such a server in LoS anyway? If your potential customers are global, then it makes no sense to put your server in Thailand, (with 2nd-class internet conectivity). Rather, sit it in a suitable offshore jurisdiction, such as Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey over in Europe.

If you want to run an internet casino then be careful! Many of the existing online casinos offer affiliate schemes for a price, but many of them are scams!! You will lose your money.

But if you want to own and operate your own casino then it is an expensive business! You need the casino software plus the gambling licence (which is typically $30,000 for jurisdictions such as Costa Rica).

Even if you find a decent affiliate scheme, you will still need to market your casino online (which would cost say $10,000 per month minimum promotion costs).

Still interested?

[Wei]

Agreed with Simon, don't risk having your server in Thailand.

If you are looking for gaming affiliate check out www.g-win.com

If you are looking to have your own gaming license, check out www.firstcagayan.com in the Phillipines.

To answer your (5), you don't need to block the members as the goverment would block your site if they find out your site is gaming related. Many licensed bookmakers web site from the UK have been blocked. (basically this happens at least once a year for few weeks or months)

In costa rica, you need to have your operation and server there in order to obtain a gaming license. try Belize, USD25k for a year license, operation and servers not needed in Belize. (thats what i heard few months back)

PM me if you need more info

[J_Max8]

Hi again!

Just a few hours after I posted two really informative posts came in I´m amazed Thanks!!

Here comes the background... I recently purchased a small share (15%) in an internet café in bkk at a total cost of 50 000 B, just to learn a little bit about the way of business in Thailand. I think now you guys understand what leuge I´m in ...

Anyway, an old friend of mine who is a computer "genius" heard about my little purchase and told me that he wanted to develope the software and make his own internetcasino (controled by him from abord) and if possible put the server in "my" café.

We have hardly discussed it but as I understod it the main reasons he wanted to put it there was that he thought that the licens would maybe be cheaper in Thailand/south east Asia then elsewere and also becouse of the fact that they server would be standing where I could be helping him if needed. And as I will move down this month to try to make myself a living abroad I was really happy if it could make me even a few extra bucks and in the same way help an old buddy out.

I know Cambodia is´t that much against gambeling, but on the other hand the internetconection is probebly not that good either... A country to consider for this project??

Laos has if I understod everything right, alot better laws for us farangs to make business, but a communism regime does not sound like a place where gambeling is legall and again is the internetcapacity enough (I think somewere around 2 mb would be enough.)

I´m not going to put any money in this project as it is way too much money for me (but I´m willing to go to a neigbourhood country if it makes it work) and also my friend wants to start small and stay away from the licens of 30 000$.

Is it even possible to get started on a lower amount then 30 000$ or is the licens price worldwide??

Cheers

J_Max

[simon43]

Hmm, sounds like your friend is trying to re-invent the wheel here. There are literally thousands of existing online casinos, many with deep pockets when it comes to marketing and advertising. Why should customers flock to use your casino running on a little server in an obscure country?

Anyway, I suspect that your internet cafe is running an ADSL connection which simply cannot be used to reliably host a server. You need a permanent internet connection (leased line)

Your friend would not have to develop his own software. Highly professional software is already available - just do a Google search. Also, the easy part is writing software - the difficult part is persuading people to use/buy it!

Thailand does not have internet casino licences available, and nor do most south-east Asian countries. (They may have 'real' casinos such as Cambodia, but their internet infrastructure precludes operation of an online casino). There are about 150 other jurisdictions that do offer such a licence. The price varies from a few thousand $ for a sub-licence in Costa-Rica (you use existing casino software etc), to maybe $500,000 in some jurisdictions., (plus annual fees and taxes).

Additionally, there are some very strict rules that you must adhere to and there must be regular audits of your software and accounts etc.

Now if online gambling were allowed in Thailand, a better money-making route would to provide easy access to an existing online casino from your internet cafe! (You could 'resell' this site and take a revenue-share of player losses...) But I think the Thai authorities would close down your cafe very quickly

You could simply resell an existing online casino and promote this to customers outside of Thailand. But have you considered the sort of promotion/advertising costs?

Simon

[MadFrankie]

your idea sounds siimlar to that of someone wanting to open a casino in a garden shed on the las vegas strip and expecting it to be a success

[Wei]

Even if South East Asia provide gaming license, its still illegal to have a non thai gaming license and have a servers in Thailand. your servers will be removed faster than you can imagine.

I once came across a thai guy who owns a casino site and making lots of money, but he was having his servers in canada and sub license from the carribean.

try www.startcasino.com check out the message board. u can get quite a number of info there.

USD30k is not even enough for a professional software, they usually cost more than hundreds of thousand. Might be enough for afffiliate but marketing and advertising will cost a bomb.

Professional casino software providers:

www.bossmedia.com

www.playtech.com

www.chartwelltechnology.conm

Its not advisable for your friends to write a casino software because casino software needs to be audited and certified. Most players online will not play on unaudited software. Besides, you will have to consider how you r going to collect the payments from your players since most merchants do not accept gaming transactions.

[Pib]

<<<<Removed post edited out>>>>

 

You are responding to a 16 year old post/thread.  Plus online gambling/casinos are illegal in Thailand.

Edited October 14, 2020 by metisdead

[fdsa]

9 minutes ago, Pib said:

You are responding to a 16 year old post/thread.  Plus online gambling/casinos are illegal in Thailand.

you are responding to a spam bot run by 16 year old coder :D

[metisdead]

This 16 year old topic discussing illegal activities is now closed.