Post Today: Thailand’s Illegal Gambling Market Tops $33 Billion a Year

The underground gambling market in Thailand is generating an estimated $33.2 billion annually, with as much as $2.4 billion funneled each year into bribes and kickbacks for government insiders. That’s according to a new investigation by Post Today.

The report details how payoffs are structured across different gambling sectors in the country:

• Land-based operations: from 5% to 8% of gross revenue (between $900 million and $1.4 billion)
• Online gambling networks: from 3% to 6% (between $452 million to $904 million)

What emerges is a three-tiered graft system that keeps the underground market running. 

According to sources, the chain of payouts involves organized crime figures, local police, municipal administrators, and high-level government officials.

Meanwhile, the future of gambling in Thailand may be shifting. Lawmakers are openly debating legalization, including proposals to build casinos open to both foreign visitors and Thai citizens.

However, access for Thai nationals would come with conditions. Under a draft proposal published by the government, locals would need to prove at least $1.5 million in fixed deposits held for a minimum of six months in order to gain entry to any licensed casino.