Thailand may consider casino resort near Malaysian border

Published on: May 23, 2024, 02:06 am.

Last updated: May 22, 2024, 3:08 a.m.

The chances continue to diminish that Thailand will join the many other Southeast Asian countries that have legalized commercial casinos. At least one province has already announced its application for such an entertainment complex.

Casino Thailand Songkhla Province Malaysia — The old town district of Songkhla City, Thailand. As the country continues to consider casinos, local authorities in Songkhla province have come out in favor of establishing a gambling complex in the southern region of the country. (Image: Tripadvisor)

The Thai House of Representatives almost unanimously passed a casino gaming bill at the end of March. The bill has the support of the country’s Cabinet and is currently under review by the Ministry of Finance.

For Thailand to become a casino state, legislation still needs to be approved by the Senate and approved by the king.

In Bangkok, gambling supporters believe casinos could help grow the Thai economy through increased tourism. Local authorities in Songkhla province, the southernmost region of the country bordering Malaysia, agree.

THE Bangkok Post reported this week that provincial leaders were excited about the prospect of bringing a casino to the area.

Tourism generator

Songchai Mungprasithichai, president of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, says tourism in the southern region remains considerably subdued compared to before the global COVID-19 pandemic. Songchai believes the casinos could attract travelers from neighboring Malaysia and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Tourist flows are not constant like in the past,” Songchai said. “Despite being an Islamic country, Malaysia allows legal casinos in Genting.”

Songchai said the province would be interested in obtaining one of Thailand’s casino licenses if the country entered the gaming industry. He believes a resort could help boost tourism, but that a A coordinated campaign is first needed to raise public awareness of the benefits of allowing a casino in the province.

For the entertainment complex project to go smoothly, it must consider the economic impact on residents and help them understand the development,” he explained. The tourism chief added that gaming should only be one facet of resorts with other amenities including hotels, retail stores, entertainment and meeting spaces.

Although some Thai lawmakers want to prioritize domestic resort companies and Genting for casino opportunities, if they become available, a major global casino company has also expressed interest. Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings said during the company’s earnings conference call this month that the company was closely monitoring casino considerations in Thailand.

Border Wars

Malaysia continues to deny reports that its prime minister recently met with billionaire Genting chairman Lim Kok Thay and lottery tycoon Vincent Tan over possible approval of another casino license. A Bloomberg This report, which Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Lim and Tan each dismissed as false, claimed that Anwar was interested in allowing the construction of a casino in Forest City, Johor, near the Malaysia-Singapore border. .

A casino in Forest City, a planned and financially desolate mixed-use luxury development, would likely have negatively impacted the operations of Singapore’s two casinos – Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.

Resorts World is Genting’s casino and resort brand. Besides Singapore, Genting has integrated resorts in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and the Bahamas. The conglomerate also owns and operates Malaysia’s only casino, Resorts World Genting, located in the Pahang Highlands.