Thailand’s push to boost revenue from foreign tourists is a key element in its casino legalisation policy, and the recently-proposed wealth threshold for locals play reflects that, as well as concerns about problem gambling among Thais of modest income.
That is according to Southeast Asia law firm Tilleke & Gibbins in comments responding to an enquiry from GGRAsia. The legal practice has an office in Bangkok, the Thai capital.
The suggested THB50-million (US$1.5-million) bank deposit requirement for Thais to gamble in any resorts built is in the latest draft of the country’s Entertainment Complex Bill.
Such a provision would be to “keep Thai citizens from participating in gambling activities,” said Penrurk Petchmani, senior associate in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Bangkok office.
She also told GGRAsia: “This could help ease public concerns about the impact of the law and heighten the entertainment complex policy’s focus on obtaining revenue primarily from foreign arrivals and tourism.”
The wealth requirement for locals is suggested by Thailand’s Council of State. That would be alongside an existing requirement that any local patrons pay THB5,000 per casino entry. The draft legislation is subject to a public hearing process, with a concluding date of March 1 mentioned in local media reports.
Tilleke & Gibbins – which also has a practice in Vietnam – drew attention to a recent pilot programme – currently lapsed – for locals gambling in that nation. The law firm observed that Thailand’s proposed monetary conditions for locals play would be “significantly higher” than under Vietnam’s pilot.
Long Gia Nguyen, partner in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Ho Chi Minh City office, stated in comments to GGRAsia: “Vietnamese regulations require local players to be at least 21 years old and have a regular income of at least VND10 million per month – about US$400 – or be a person subject to personal income tax at level 3 or higher.”
Mr Long added: “Vietnamese players must also purchase a VND1 million – about US$40 – single-day casino entry ticket or a monthly pass for VND25 million.”
The Vietnam-based lawyer further noted: “Statistics show that from 2019 to the end of 2023, up to 300,000 Vietnamese people have visited [Corona Resort and Casino] in Phu Quoc island, so far the only casino in Vietnam allowing local players.”
Locals had made up “62 percent of total players,” compared to the “179,507 foreigners accounting for 38 percent of the total players,” during the relevant period, said Mr Long.
He added that under the pilot, Vietnamese players had “spent VND242 billion – about US$9.5 million – to buy [casino entry] tickets”.
The lawyer further noted: “It seems that the monetary threshold is not a real barrier for many local players in Vietnam.”
Singapore, which has a casino duopoly consisting of the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa properties, has no income threshold requirement for its local citizens that wish to visit the gaming premises.
The city-state currently imposes a daily casino entry levy SGD150 (circa US$112) for locals wishing to visit either of the two gaming premises, or an annual levy of SGD3,000.
