Thailand - Bills and Course

(Section: "Markets and Jurisdictions")

1) Basic mode (now)

Thailand historically follows a prohibitive model: casinos and online gambling are prohibited, only the state lottery and horse racing bets are legal (under special permits). Enforcement includes site/application blocking and payment curbs, periodic raids against underground halls.

2) How the "course for legalization" arose (2023-2024)

In 2023-2024, parliamentary committees recommended that the government study the integrated resorts (IR) model - "entertainment complexes" with casinos inside, limiting the share of casinos and setting strict access filters. This was filed as a tool of de-tenization and tourism.

3) Peak phase 2025: what the project proposed

On January 13, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft law on entertainment complexes with subsequent referral to parliament. Early 2025 versions featured strict barriers for Thai citizens: an entry fee of 5,000 THB and even a requirement for confirmed bank balances of 50 million THB (discussed for mitigation); the area of ​ ​ the casino is ≤10% of the total complex. The goal is tourism, investment and the fight against illegal.

4) Reversal in spring - summer 2025 and the result in autumn

Amid public resistance and political crisis, consideration of the bill was postponed, and on July 7-9, 2025, it was withdrawn/withdrawn; later, a special Senate committee gave a negative opinion (September 2025), pointing to social and security risks. Some sources allowed the topic to return in 2026, but formally at the end of 2025 the course was a pause.

5) What it means' here and now'

Online marketplace: still banned; there is a blocking of domains/applications and payment routes, increased control over "game mechanics" in digital services (anti-loot box trend).
Offline: casinos are not allowed; the lottery/racetrack remains in the current frame.
Advertising/Affiliates: Offshore Promotion. com to Thai audience - high risk area (network/payment block measures).

6) What the future IR mode might look like (if you go back to the project)

• Anchor locations (pilot): Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, etc.; work through a Thai legal entity with limits on foreign ownership.
• The share of casinos is ≤10% of the complex area (the rest are hotels, congress centers, retail, theme parks).
• Thai access - by filters (entrance fee, age 20 +/21 +, financial criteria), foreigners without entrance fee.
• Hard AML/KYC and RG, GGR/NGR reporting, RNG/accounting module certification, immutable logs and supervisory access.

7) Road map (for the pause period)

B2C-operators

Any offshore attempts to target Thailand are a high sanctions risk (blocks, payment restrictions, criminal cases). The factor of "gray" affiliates requires zero-tolerance and off-switch geo.

B2B providers (platforms/content/IDV/AML/information security/anti-fraud)

1. Non-gaming focus for the Thai market (cybersecurity, payment information security, ID-verification without a gambling component).
2. Contracts: Thai target ban for gambling functions, DPIA/DTIA, SLA, version control.
3. Technique: WORM logs, NTP, encryption, RBAC/SoD, DR/BCP; ready-made reporting showcases for customer regulators.
4. Marketing: compliance journal (creatives/URL/dates/geo), instant recall, anti-cloaking.

8) Compliance checklists

Legal perimeter

• Confirmed: no B2C target for Thailand; block by IP/language/payment
• Responsible officers: Compliance, AML, IT-Security, Ads
• Prescription plan: fast off-switch domains/creatives/payments

AML/KYC & RG

• CDD/EDD; sanctions/RAP; SoF/SoW by Trigger
• STR/CTR procedures and log retention
• RG functions in partner products banning vulnerable promos

IT/Security

• WORM logs "depozit/stavka→raschet→vyplata→korrektirovka," NTP
• Encryption, RBAC/SoD, secret management; pentests/scans
• DR/BCP exercises; secure uploads/interfaces for auditing

Ads/Affiliates

• No "guaranteed win "/" no risk"
• Compliance Log; anti-mirrors/cloaking
• Geo-filters and negative site lists

9) Waiting period KPI

Compliance: 0 incidents of Thai traffic/payments/advertising

IS: MTTR of ↓ incidents; closing high-vulns on time; successful DR tests

AML: increase in the proportion of valid STR/CTR in partners; decrease in "pseudo-merchants"

Marketing: 100% geo-filtering accuracy; 0 hits in Thailand

10) FAQ

Online casinos in Thailand now possible?
No, it isn't. Online gambling is prohibited for Thai audiences; there are network and payment block measures.

Is it true that "casinos are about to be legalized"?
In 2025, the project was approved by the Cabinet, but then withdrawn/withdrawn and refused in the Senate. The topic may return later, but at the end of 2025 - a pause.

What were the planned filters for Thais?
The entrance fee of 5,000 THB, the requirement of bank balances of 50 million THB and the limit of ≤10% of the area for the casino were discussed - these were draft parameters that were not valid.

Where to open B2B directions?
Look for non-gaming/regtech niches and export projects outside the Thai target; prepare products for future IR requirements (certification, logging, AML/RG), but without launching on Thailand until the law changes.

Note

The status of the bill and the subtlety of enforcement changed throughout 2025. Before budgeting and any marketing activities, check the current positions of the government/parliament/Senate and the explanations of the relevant departments.