Thaicasinocenter.org Is 100 Percent Behind Legal Gambling in Thailand

Talks of legalizing gambling in Thailand have been flourishing in recent years, with government officials looking to have finally realized the untapped potential of this sector and the risks it poses by being left unchecked.

As one of the handful of resource sites available to Thai gambling enthusiasts, Thai Casino Center (www.thaicasinocenter.org), which also acts as a casino affiliate website, states its support of the move towards a legalized local market. Currently, the site can only offer to promote foreign casinos which hold licenses from countries such as Malta or the UK, since the local offering is non-existent. This means providing their customers with casino experiences that are not tailored to language, culture, and preferences, which is, of course, not at all ideal. Legalizing gambling in Thailand would also have the evident beneficial effect of boosting the country’s economy through tax revenue, which has greatly suffered in the wake of the COVID pandemic.

In an effort to revive the nation's flagging economy, a Thai National Assembly committee has recommended that the government issue a declaration enabling the construction of recreational venues that include legal casinos in major cities around the country. The panel believes that if the plan is approved, it would help Thailand bring in billions of dollars from tourists, gamblers, and international investors who may otherwise go elsewhere.

The committee said earlier this week that casino resorts might be developed in a total of five different areas, with Bangkok being considered the most desirable destination. Periodically over the past several months, the committee has provided other updates, but now it is up to the House to make any relevant material public. There will be other obstacles to overcome when the House has reviewed the idea. Before beginning, the project must get approval from the country's parliament. It's reasonable to expect significant capital outlay needs. Thai casinos will compete with those in Japan and Macau, both of which are anticipating huge inflows of new cash to expand their offerings.

Important voices in the business, such as Hard Rock International's SVP for Development Daniel Cheng, have come out in favour of the plan, expressing faith that the government can draft laws well enough to satisfy operators subject to specific foreign investment requirements. MGM President of Global Development Ed Bowers agreed with him, reiterating the company's enthusiasm for the Thai market.

Not everyone is as optimistic, however. Spectrum Gaming Group's Senior VP for Asia, Paul Bromberg, was questioned if the Thai government had the desire or competence to put in place the type of legal structure necessary for foreign investment. He said, "the simple answer is no" and that while the general public is supportive of legalizing casinos because of the potential economic benefits, they don't understand that the sector requires a strong imposition of government regulation in order to thrive. That's something he does not believe politicians understand and that it may be possible that companies will understand, and they'll be able to collaborate, but he estimates it will take a long time.

Only time will tell if this initiative will bear fruit, but Thai Casino Center, which has quite a bit of experience in the field and the added benefit of knowing the Thai market, is confident that the government will pull through on the legislative efforts required to advance and Thai gamblers as well as tourists will be able, in just a few short years, to enjoy safe and legal fun in local casinos and resorts.