Thailand Casino Bill Approved by Cabinet
On March 27, Thailand cabinet members passed the controversial Entertainment Complex Bill, which would legalize casino resorts in the country.
Legal casino gambling has been the subject of lengthy debate in the kingdom and sparked multiple street protests. But during a recent public comment period, 80 percent of residents who participated gave thumbs-up to the proposal.
The industry is expected to lure billions in international investment, boost tourism and create tens of thousands of new jobs. It would also generate an estimated 39.4 billion baht (US$1.16 billion) in annual tax revenue.
If approved in Parliament and the Senate, the entertainment complexes will be developed in tourism hotspots throughout the country, including Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chonburi and the capital of Bangkok. The measure also must be approved by the monarch, Maha Vajiralongkorn.
The bill retained a clause mandating that residents pay an entry fee of 5,000 baht to enter and play at a casino. They would also have to demonstrate a bank balance of at least 50 million baht. Lawmakers briefly considered removing the “millionaire’s clause,” which could create what is essentially a foreigners-only market.
The bill is subject to amendment in the next phase of review.
Eighty percent of Thai citizens offering public comments said they support the development of “entertainment complexes” with casinos. At the same time, a new poll reported strong opposition to the proposed legislation.
According to Bloomberg, 70,000 Thailand residents participated in a public comment period overseen by the Ministry of Finance.
“Our economy once grew exponentially, but it is difficult right now, as we lack a new growth engine,” said Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, as quoted by The Nation. Julapun called the new industry a potential “game-changer.”
“The country needs a sizable level of investment in key attractions to attract both frequent travelers and first-time visitors,” agreed Kevin Clayton of Macau casino operator Galaxy Entertainment Group in comments to the Bangkok Post. Galaxy is one of many global companies interested in the new market, including MGM Resorts International, Genting Singapore, Melco Resorts & Entertainment and the Las Vegas Sands Corp.
According to projections, entertainment complexes with gaming could more than double annual tourism revenue and create tens of thousands of new jobs. In 2024, visitors to the country generated 172 billion baht (US$47.1 billion) in revenue, or about 12 percent of GDP.
But a poll from the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) reflects lingering concerns. About one-third of those surveyed said legal casinos could bring new crime including money laundering to the country. Also, 28 percent said they are worried about increased risks for problem gambling. Others wondered why the government has not conducted a public referendum on the proposal.
Philippines Officials Warn of ‘POGO-like’ Threats
In 2024, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGOs) after lurid headlines linked them to online scams, money laundering, human trafficking and torture.
Despite the ban, remnants of the outlaw industry remain. Some POGOs went underground or moved offshore. And a number of foreign POGO workers are still in the country, months after they were ordered to leave.
Now the Philippines Bureau of Immigration (BI) is forcibly deporting them. The BI requires deportees to travel by direct flight only, to keep them from escaping on layovers. The move will “lower opportunities for (foreign nationals) to expand their operations in other Asian countries,” said BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado.
Meanwhile, Philippines officials warn job-seekers to beware of “POGO-like” operations offering overseas employment. In a case reported March 18 by the Daily Tribune, Filipinos were recruited via Facebook for customer service jobs in Cambodia paying $1,000 a month.
On arrival, they were forced to work as online romance scammers at $300 a month, and suffered abuse at the hands of their employers. Viado called on local authorities “to increase monitoring and enforcement in vulnerable areas.”
Illegal igaming is an epidemic in Southeast Asia. “The problem is … a river of money going into the hands of organized crime”—an estimated $100 billion a year, according to the Asia Sentinel. The allure of billions in black-market profits “isn’t going to stop.”
Wynn CEO: UAE Will Rival Vegas for Revenue
In a recent interview with CNBC, Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings said Wynn Al Marjan Island, a new resort complex with gaming in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), could generate $8 billion a year at maturity.
“To put that in perspective, the Las Vegas Strip (generates) a little over $6 billion” annually, Billings told host Jim Cramer. “So that’s a substantial market opportunity.”
The first integrated resort in the Middle East is under development in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. It is expected to open in 2027. It will feature a 1,500-room hotel, 22 private villas, meeting and convention space, more than 20 restaurants and lounges, and a 225,000-square-foot casino, as well as a nightclub and a beach club.
Wynn Resorts owns 40 percent of the project, which it co-owns with Marjan LLC and RAK Hospitality Holding LLC, reported the Khaleej Times. The partners have an exclusive, renewable 15-year casino license.
Another advantage: Al Marjan Island is 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport, making it easily accessible to international travelers.
Hong Kong Jockey Club Delays Start of Mainland China Races
A planned race meet at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s (HKJC) new training facility in mainland China has been called off due to weather. CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges confirmed to Idol Horse that post time was pushed back due to the “relatively high” chance of rain over the summer.
“If you start and then you have to pause, it is not ideal,” he said. “So we thought we’d do everything in October.” The pause provides “much more time to do tests, because it’s a completely new site.”
Set on 370 acres, about 100 miles from the Hong Kong-China border, Conghua can house 600 horses. It has become popular among Hong Kong trainers, who increasingly use it as a base for horses between races.
MGM Cotai Named Macau’s ‘Best Business Hotel’
For the fourth consecutive year, the TTG China Travel Awards has named MGM Cotai the “Best Business Hotel in Macau.”
Hubert Wang, president and COO of MGM China Holdings Ltd., said the company “is committed to supporting Macau’s economic diversification by attracting discerning international travelers and extending their stay.”
He pledged to “continue expanding” the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) segment,” reinforcing Macau’s “position as a global hub” for business travelers.
