Thailand lawmakers have recently made significant revisions to the Entertainment Complex Bill, removing a controversial clause that required individuals to be millionaires to enter casinos. This clause, which necessitated Thai nationals to possess substantial savings of at least 50 million baht, has now been eliminated. The initial proposal sparked concerns as the average annual income in Thailand is significantly lower than the stipulated amount, standing at around 348,000 baht in 2023.
The decision to scrap the millionaire entry requirement was motivated by the realization that only a limited number of Thai citizens met the financial criteria, with approximately 10,000 individuals having the specified savings threshold. The clause aimed to mitigate the risks associated with problem gambling; however, it also risked alienating local players and potentially discouraging investment from international gaming companies like Genting Singapore.
In response to these concerns, the latest version of the bill now mandates that prospective Thai gamblers demonstrate a history of filing income tax returns for three years instead. Additionally, the entry fee for casinos remains at 5,000 baht. Furthermore, the revised bill includes provisions that prohibit online gambling and livestreaming from casino premises, with the intention of preventing proxy betting activities.
Proxy betting, a practice where individuals place bets on behalf of off-site gamblers, has been a growing concern in various Southeast Asian countries, prompting regulatory actions to curb such activities. For instance, Macau implemented a ban on proxy betting in 2016 to prevent illicit capital movements by mainland Chinese high rollers, leading to a surge in proxy betting in neighboring countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
Despite these regulatory measures, opposition to the establishment of casinos in Thailand remains prevalent among a significant portion of the population. A recent poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration revealed that 59% of respondents disapprove of entertainment complexes featuring casinos, while only 29% expressed support for such developments. Public discontent has manifested in protests, with demonstrators voicing their objections to the government’s casino plans and urging a reconsideration of the proposed legislation.