Thailand: Lower House approves feasibility report on legalisation of casinos

Thailand’s lower house lawmakers endorsed a feasibility report last month on the potential for establishing an entertainment complex with a casino in one of 22 locations, including Bangkok. The decision comes as the government attempts to revive its tourism industry and compete with other regional gambling hotspots.

Thailand has suffered low tourist inflows in the last couple of years due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns and restrictions. Only 430,000 foreign tourists visited Thailand in 2021 which is just 1% of the total visitation number of the pre-pandemic year, 2019. Before the pandemic, tourism contributed close to one-fifth of the nation’s GDP.

Experts believe casinos are the saving grace for reviving the tourism industry in Thailand. The report, which includes conditions relating to how Thai citizens and foreign visitors can access casinos, will be…