Most Thai nationals would in likelihood be priced out of gambling at any Thai casino resorts, under a new draft of the Entertainment Complex Bill, the enabling legislation, that was published on Saturday.
Under the fresh draft, Thais wishing to enter casinos would be required to present a fixed-deposit bank account statement showing a balance of at least THB50 million (US$1.5 million) dating back six consecutive months. The news was first reported by Bloomberg.
According to the latest draft of the Entertainment Complex Bill, punters must be at least 20 years old to enter a casino. In Macau, where there are no restrictions or earnings qualifications on locals gambling, the minimum age for gambling is 21.
The revised draft also proposes that casinos can make up no more than 10 percent of the premises at the entertainment complexes.
Typically, in the existing Asia-Pacific land-based casino industry, the gaming floor only makes up a modest portion of an entire integrated resort (IR), but produces proportionately a much higher revenue yield than non-gaming facilities.
Bloomberg said “tightened” proposals for Thailand were amid “growing concerns about the potential for problem gambling”.
The news outlet said another change to Thailand’s amended draft bill, is a requirement that casinos are separate from the rest of an entertainment complex, and have distinct entrance points.
The proposal still mandates that at least four other types of business must be housed inside the entertainment complexes. Possible amenities encompass shops, a hotel, an amusement park, or sports complexes.
The locations of the casino complexes will be determined by a special policy committee, according to the amended draft law. According to Bloomberg, the proposal has been put up for public hearings until March 1.
Thailand’s cabinet approved in principle on January 13 the Entertainment Complex Bill for casino liberalisation, announced that day the country’s prime minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The government has given the country’s Council of State, a law-review body, 50 days to consider the bill before it is due to be forwarded for deliberation by the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
The Bangkok Post reported last week – citing government sources – that the deadline for such checks would be March 6.
The publishing of the revised draft law comes amid a number of headwinds for the casino policy.
A week ago, a former Thai prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva criticised the Thai government’s plan to legalise land-based casinos and online betting in the country, saying such steps will worsen social problems there that are associated with gambling.
Additionally last week, Thailand’s prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she had been warned by China’s leader ,President Xi Jinping – during a recent official visit to Beijing – about social problems that could arise if her country legalised casinos.
