Thailand’s draft Entertainment Complex Business Act is in the final stages of its online public hearing and is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval on March 4th.
This is according to local media outlet The Nation, which cited a source from the Government House on Wednesday.
Once approved by the Cabinet, the draft will proceed to Parliament for further deliberation.
Since receiving in-principle approval on January 13th, the draft has undergone a review by the Council of State and has seen three rounds of public hearings. The final round of the online public hearing is set to conclude on March 1st, the source confirmed.
The proposed law aims to legalize Thailand’s significant underground gambling industry, with the goal of establishing casino-entertainment complexes to generate tax revenue.
The draft Entertainment Complex Business Act consists of eight sections, covering the definition of an entertainment complex, the establishment and responsibilities of the Entertainment Complex Policy Committee, the creation and duties of the governing agency, the authority and functions of related officials, the application process for permits and criteria for operating entertainment complexes, measures to mitigate negative impacts from casinos, punishments for violations, and a transitory provision.
The source further noted that several key details have been finalized. Business operators will be required to have at least THB10 billion ($300 million) in registered capital, with a minimum of 51 percent ownership by Thai nationals. The business permit will be valid for 30 years, with an option for a 10-year renewal.
The casino permit fee will be set at THB5 billion ($149 million), with an annual renewal fee of THB1 billion ($30 million). Thai nationals will face an entrance fee of THB5,000 ($149), and casino customers must be at least 20 years old and have a minimum of THB50 million ($1.5 million) in a fixed deposit account. This requirement would effectively exclude the vast majority of Thais from accessing local casinos.
Other key revisions include a rule that casinos must be physically separated from the rest of the entertainment complex, with distinct gates and entrances. Additionally, the draft allows for casino floor space to occupy up to 10 percent of the total resort area, an increase from the previous 5 percent cap.
It is estimated that the Entertainment Complex Business Act will be enacted by the first quarter of 2026. A feasibility study is expected to begin that same year, followed by a bidding process and construction in 2027. The project is slated for completion in 3-4 years.
