Legal casinos have not become law in Thailand. The Entertainment Complex Bill, which would have allowed casinos inside large tourism and entertainment projects, was withdrawn from the House of Representatives in July 2025. The Cabinet voted on 8 July 2025 to pull the bill at the Finance Ministry's request, and the House approved the withdrawal on 9 July 2025. Because it was withdrawn, the bill is not law and none of its rules apply.
This article explains what the bill proposed, why the government withdrew it, what each side said in Parliament, and where residents and visitors can follow the issue if it returns.
How the casino bill was withdrawn
The bill was a government bill proposed by the Finance Ministry and placed before the House of Representatives. It stopped at Cabinet meeting No. 27/2025 (B.E. 2568, the Thai Buddhist Era year) on 8 July 2025. The Cabinet (the council of ministers led by the prime minister) approved the Finance Ministry's proposal to withdraw it from the House's consideration.
Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, gave two reasons. First, new ministers had been appointed after changes in office on 30 June 2025. Second, the bill touched on social issues, and the government needed more time to build public understanding. Isra News and Daily News reported the same meeting date, spokesperson and reasons.
On 9 July 2025 the House voted to remove the bill from its agenda: 253 in favor, 67 against, out of 320 votes cast, according to Thai PBS.
What each side said in Parliament
Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the opposition leader in the House, asked the government why it had pulled the bill. Paradorn Prissananantakul, a Bhumjaithai Party member of parliament, asked the House to vote on whether to withdraw it, because he disagreed with the withdrawal.
Julapun Amornvivat, a deputy finance minister, said there was no casino deal between the prime minister and Hun Sen. He said the public was part of the reason the government withdrew the bill.
What the withdrawn bill proposed
The details below describe the bill as submitted to the House, as summarized by the legal information center iLaw. They are not rules in force.
- Casino as one part of a larger complex. The casino area could not exceed 10 percent of the land or the building's usable space, whichever was smaller.
- At least four types of business. A complex had to include at least 4 types of business, and a casino was mandatory. It also had to include space promoting Thai goods, services and culture, covering at least 10 percent of the total area.
- Possible businesses. An annex listed shopping malls, hotels, entertainment venues, sports facilities, game venues, swimming pools and water parks, and amusement parks.
- Operator rules. Applicants had to be a limited company or public limited company registered in Thailand with paid-up capital of at least 10 billion baht. The license would run for 30 years and be renewable for another 10 years. The first license fee was capped at 5 billion baht, and the annual fee at 1 billion baht a year.
- Player rules. Players had to be 20 or older and pay 5,000 baht per entry. Thai nationals would have needed a fixed deposit of at least 50 million baht held for at least 6 months, plus a background check. Foreigners would not have faced this deposit condition. iLaw reported that the Pheu Thai Party said the 50 million baht figure could be changed at the committee stage.
These figures show how the government once framed the idea. They are not current rules.
Where the bill stands now and what to watch
The bill was withdrawn in July 2025 and is not law. If you see posts or news claiming that legal casinos are now open or approved in Thailand, check them against official sources before relying on them.
If the government brings the idea back, the first signs would appear in Cabinet resolutions, the House of Representatives' agenda, and announcements in the Royal Gazette (the official government publication). Those are the three places to start.
Source: Thai PBS (House vote and parliamentary remarks, 9 July 2025), Isra News and Daily News (Cabinet resolution of 8 July 2025 and the spokesperson's reasons), iLaw (contents of the bill submitted to the House).
This article is adapted from ViewNews' Thai-language report.
