Thailand’s cabinet has kept in place within the country’s casino-legalisation bill a THB50-billion (US$1.5-million) bank deposit requirement for locals to play in such facilities. A THB5,000 entry fee for locals also remains in the draft.
The information was reported by Reuters on Thursday, following the cabinet approving that day the latest draft of the Entertainment Complex Bill.
The report said such restrictions would effectively bar a large portion of the local population from entering any Thai casinos, citing a local per capita gross domestic product figure of US$7,300 as a factor.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra – who on Wednesday survived a no-confidence vote in parliament – told reporters following Thursday’s cabinet session that the details of the law were not final as parliament would have the final say.
The wealth test for locals had been inserted into an earlier draft in February by the country’s legal advisory body, the Council of State. A number of commentators spoken to by GGRAsia in February had mentioned the limit would significantly shift the focus of the casino policy.
Then in early March, it had been reported that the Thai authorities had dropped the THB50 million threshold for locals.
Days later, deputy finance minister Julapun Amornvivat had said – as cited by the Bangkok Post newspaper – it would be up to the assembly to decide on details including the financial qualification for locals.
The government, led by the Pheu Thai party, hopes to attract at least THB100 billion in new investment in entertainment complexes featuring casinos, and to see an annual boost to foreign arrivals of 5 percent to 10 percent, while generating revenue of more than THB12 billion a year, stated Reuters.
The Thai government expects this year 38 million foreign arrivals, closing in on the nation’s pre-pandemic record of nearly 40 million, noted the news agency.
