Thailand May Open Its First Casino Resort By 2030

Udorn Olsson, a member of Thailand’s parliamentary committee, has dropped a bombshell: gambling in the country could be legal by next year, with the first casino resort opening its doors by 2030. The official spilled the beans in an interview with GGRAsia.

If the lawmakers give their thumbs up, up to five casino resorts could pop up across Thailand, with at least one of them in Bangkok.

The casino projects will be classified as “small-scale”, “medium-scale”, or “large-scale”, depending on their locations. The expected investment amounts for each project are $500 million, $2 billion, and $8 billion, respectively.

As for taxes, Olsson mentioned that a 30% tax on gross gaming revenue is being considered, and VIP gambling is likely to be subject to an 18% tax rate.

In addition, the possibility of copying the “Singapore model” is being discussed, which would require local players to pay a fee to gamble in their own casinos. Right now, a $29 daily fee is in the works, and there will also be an option to buy a yearly pass for casino visits (the cost of which is unknown). Players will need to demonstrate financial capability for gambling and provide proof of a clean criminal record.