Casino in Thailand: Legalization Status, 4 Cities and Entry Rules

Efforts to legalize casinos in Thailand have gathered pace in recent years.

Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, integrated resorts (IRs) that include a casino have already become popular tourist attractions in countries such as Singapore and the Philippines. Thailand is also preparing legislation to legalize casinos, but the bill has run into difficulties in parliament, and it is not clear when it will pass.

What You Will Learn

• Thailand has no casinos yet. The integrated resort bill was withdrawn in 2025 and is now back under consideration.
• There is no confirmed opening date, and even if the bill passes, setting up the regulations and building the resorts will take several years.

This article takes about 8 minutes to read.

Are There Casinos in Thailand? Is Gambling Legal?

As of September 2026, there are no casinos in Thailand. The Gambling Act B.E. 2478 (1935) bans most forms of gambling, and violators face criminal penalties.

Horse racing and the lottery, both overseen by the government, are legal.

Illegal casinos (underground casinos) are another matter. Police raids on them are regularly reported, and they are regarded as a social problem.

Status of Thailand’s Casino Legalization Bill

In March 2024, the Thai parliament adopted a report on legalizing casinos, and the prime minister at the time also spoke in favor of the idea.

The plan is to build four integrated resorts (also called entertainment complexes) in major cities. An integrated resort combines facilities such as hotels, shopping malls and entertainment venues on a single site, including a casino.

The plan is intended to bring in foreign currency and create jobs. Operators would be taxed at 17% of their revenue, a rate that is low compared with other Southeast Asian countries and is reportedly meant to attract investment.

23 Forms of Gambling Legalized Under Certain Conditions

In October 2024, the Thai government issued a ministerial regulation that legalizes 23 forms of gambling, including poker, cockfighting, buffalo racing and mahjong, under certain conditions.

The regulation comes with strict rules: the games are allowed only at specific times and places and with prior permission from the authorities. Even so, it is seen as groundwork for legalizing casinos.

The Casino Bill Has Stalled

In March 2025, the Thai government approved a bill that would allow integrated resorts with casinos and submitted it to parliament, aiming to pass it within the year.

In July of that year, amid public opposition, the departure of a coalition partner and the suspension of the prime minister from duty, the bill was withdrawn from the House of Representatives’ agenda. In September, a Senate special committee rejected the bill and recommended that a national referendum be held before any future legalization. When parliament was dissolved in December, the bill had no remaining procedural path forward.

A new coalition framework was agreed on in May 2026, and the bill is now back under consideration. However, a survey by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) found that 59% of Thais oppose the casino plan, so the outlook for the bill remains uncertain.

Recent Developments and Outlook for Casinos in Thailand

Note: The information below is as of September 2026. The opening date, candidate sites, entry requirements and entry fees may change as the bill moves through parliament, so check official announcements from the Thai government for the latest details.

In this section, we look at what to expect after legalization, such as when casinos might open and where you would be able to play, based on the latest developments confirmed in news reports. None of this is final, so we keep what has been reported separate from our own assessment.

When Will Thailand’s Casino Resorts Open?

So far, there is no confirmed opening date.

Even if the casino bill passes, setting up the regulations is expected to take about two years and building the integrated resorts about three more. The optimistic scenario discussed in the industry is that the bill clears both houses of parliament and license bidding begins the following year, followed by construction.

Several financial institutions have reportedly shown interest in the project, but because it is not even certain when deliberations will resume, it is too early to predict an opening year.

Where Will You Be Able to Play at a Casino in Thailand?

According to reports from mid-March 2025, four cities have been selected as candidate sites for the integrated resorts. The resorts would be spread across the country, with one casino resort in each region. The candidate sites are as follows.

Four Candidate Sites for Casinos in Thailand

• North: Chiang Mai
• East: Pattaya (Chonburi)
• South: Phuket
• Capital: Bangkok

All four are established tourist destinations with good transport links. However, the expected number of visitors reportedly varies from site to site, and there is no guarantee that every area will get a casino resort.

What Will the Age Limit Be, and Who Will Be Allowed In?

The age of majority in Thailand is 20, so in principle, anyone aged 20 or older is expected to be allowed in. Some countries allow gambling from age 18, but in Thailand 18- and 19-year-olds would not be able to enter a casino.

The age limit applies only to the casino itself. Other facilities, such as shopping malls, would be open to everyone.

Foreign visitors are expected to be able to enter once their identity has been verified with a passport. Thai nationals would reportedly be admitted only if their bank balance or similar evidence shows that gambling would not cause them financial hardship.

What Games Will Thailand’s Casinos Offer?

Beyond the casinos themselves, there have also been developments in how poker tournaments and online casinos are treated. Here is what is known so far.

Will Poker Tournaments Be Held?

In 2025, the first World Poker Tour (WPT) event in Bangkok was announced. The WPT is one of the world’s leading poker tours. Check the organizer’s official announcements for past events and upcoming schedules.

Poker tournaments are popular worldwide, and many Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia, have poker rooms.

In 2024, Thailand legalized 23 forms of gambling, including poker, under certain conditions. If casinos are built, tourists will likely be able to play poker there as well.

What Will Happen to Online Casinos?

The legalization proposed in Thailand covers both land-based casinos and online casinos. However, the scope may change during deliberations, and what will be allowed depends on the final content of the bill.

Impact of Legalizing Casinos in Thailand

Economic Impact

Thailand is already a popular tourist destination, and estimates suggest that casinos would give its economy a further boost.

Economic Impact Within Thailand

Tourism accounts for about 20% of Thailand’s GDP. According to one estimate, integrated resorts could raise tourism revenue by up to 448 billion baht and add more than 1% to GDP growth.

Wealthy Chinese visitors who now travel to other countries to gamble are expected to play at casinos in Thailand instead, which would raise spending per visitor. Running the integrated resorts would also create jobs, so the estimates suggest that the economic benefits would be substantial once the resorts are up and running.

Economic Impact on Neighboring Countries

Neighboring countries that attract many wealthy Chinese visitors, such as Singapore and Cambodia, could lose customers to Thailand, and some observers warn that the impact on them could be severe.

Social Impact

One of the main issues in any debate on legalizing casinos is gambling addiction. Other countries in the region impose strict limits: Singapore charges its own citizens an entry fee, and in Cambodia only foreigners are allowed into casinos.

For the same reason, Thailand reportedly plans to require Thai nationals to pay an entry fee of 5,000 baht and to show proof of bank deposits of at least 50 million baht.

There are also concerns that public safety could worsen, even though licensed casinos would be better regulated than illegal gambling. Thailand’s finance minister, who has championed the integrated resorts, has said that part of the casino tax revenue would be used to develop the surrounding communities, but the specific plans have yet to be drawn up.

Tips for Traveling in Thailand

• Exchanging money in Thailand usually gets you a better rate than exchanging it before you leave home
• Agree on the fare before you get into a tuk-tuk
• Avoid wearing yellow or red, and avoid overly casual clothing
• Watch out for pickpockets and bag snatchers

Thailand has its own customs, and some things may work differently from what you are used to at home.

Yellow and red, for example, can be taken as colors that signal a political position. When demonstrations or rallies are taking place, avoiding these two colors helps you avoid being taken for a supporter of one side.

Also be alert for pickpockets and bag snatchers, who often target foreign tourists.

Countries Near Thailand with Casinos

Integrated resorts with casinos are increasingly common in Southeast Asia, and only a minority of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states have no casinos at all. The countries below are relatively easy to reach from Thailand. Each of these countries, as well as Singapore, is covered in detail in its own article.

• The Philippines
• Malaysia
• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Myanmar

Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia all share a border with Thailand. Travel safety warnings are in place, however, for Thailand’s Deep South near the border with Malaysia. If you are thinking of crossing a land border, check your government’s latest travel advice before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gambling illegal in Thailand?

As a rule, gambling is illegal in Thailand. Horse racing, the lottery and the 23 types of gambling legalized under certain conditions in October 2024 are the exceptions.

When will casinos become legal in Thailand?

No date has been set yet. The Entertainment Complex Bill, which would allow integrated resorts with casinos, was taken off the parliamentary agenda in 2025 and came back under consideration in 2026. Even if it passes, putting the regulations in place and building the resorts are each expected to take several years, so it will be some time before any casino opens.

Will foreign tourists be able to play at casinos in Thailand?

Yes. Foreign tourists are expected to need only a passport check to enter. The entry fee and proof of bank deposits required of Thai nationals are not expected to apply to foreigners.

Summary: The Bill Is Back Under Review, and No Opening Date Has Been Set

Gambling has long been banned in Thailand, but with integrated resorts drawing visitors across Southeast Asia, support is growing for allowing them as a way to bring in foreign currency and create jobs. If the bill passes, visitors will be able to play slots and table games at casino resorts. Even then, time will be needed after the vote to put the regulations in place and build the resorts.

The opening of integrated resorts is expected to boost tourism revenue and bring substantial economic benefits.

No opening date has been set yet. If you are planning a trip, check the Thai government’s official announcements for the latest situation.