Withdrawn, rejected, revived
The Entertainment Complex Bill would have created integrated resorts with licensed casino floors, on the Singapore model, with the casino as a small share of a much larger development. It got a long way and then stopped twice.
The House of Representatives formally withdrew it on 9 July 2025, days after a leaked phone call collapsed support inside the governing coalition. A Senate committee then rejected the legislation on 25 September 2025, citing social impact, infrastructure cost and national security, and recommended that any future legalisation be put to a public referendum. A coalition framework agreement in May 2026 reopened the path, with the number of permitted complexes cut from five to three.
The realistic range now runs from passage late in 2026 with licensing in 2027, to another cycle of postponement. This page states what has happened and does not predict which.
What this means for a trip
There is no legal casino in Thailand and no licensed operator. Illegal gambling exists and is not something this site will point you at: the risk is not the house edge.
The legal options in the region are Cambodia, whose border towns exist largely because Thailand's casinos do not, Singapore and the Philippines.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are casinos legal in Thailand?
- No. Casinos are prohibited, and the bill that would have licensed them was withdrawn in July 2025 and rejected by a Senate committee in September 2025.
- Will Thailand legalise casinos?
- It is open. A May 2026 coalition agreement revived the legislation with up to three entertainment complexes rather than five. Passage late in 2026 and another postponement are both live outcomes.
- Where is the nearest legal casino?
- Cambodia's border towns, notably Poipet, are the closest. Singapore and the Philippines are the nearest large regulated markets.
Legal age, regulator and the tax treatment of player winnings on this page were checked against the regulator's own material or a reputable legal summary in August 2026. Gambling law moves; confirm anything consequential with the regulator before relying on it. Where sources disagreed, this site leaves the figure out rather than guessing.