Skip to content

Gambling in Thailand: Laws and Online Gambling

WATCH THE COUNTRY GUIDE · ENGLISH CAPTIONS

Online gambling in Thailand: laws and player risks

Elodie explains online casino rules in Thailand, player enforcement evidence, offshore risks and available options. Checked 9 November 2026.

Video transcript and official sources → · Country video guides →

Published by Casino News Daily editorial teamReviewed byFilip RadulovicOur editorial approach

Thailand prohibits almost all gambling. Under the Gambling Act of 1935, the only lawful forms are the government lottery and betting on horse races, and no Thai authority licenses casinos, sports betting or online gambling. A government bill that would have legalised casinos inside large “entertainment complexes” was approved by the Cabinet in January 2025, met strong public opposition, and was withdrawn from Parliament in July 2025. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in office since September 2025 and re-elected by the House in March 2026, has said his government will not revive it. Online gambling remains illegal, and the authorities block gambling websites and pursue the networks and bank accounts behind them.

Key points

The Gambling Act of 1935 (B.E. 2478) prohibits gambling other than the government lottery and horse-race betting.
The government lottery has been run by the state since 1939 and now draws twice a month.
Online gambling is illegal for organisers and participants alike; the authorities block gambling websites and prosecute the networks behind them.
The Entertainment Complex Bill, which proposed five licensed casino resorts, was approved by the Cabinet on 13 January 2025 but withdrawn by a House vote on 9 July 2025; in March 2026 the re-elected government of Anutin Charnvirakul kept casino legalisation off its agenda.
The Playing Cards Act makes it illegal to possess more than 120 playing cards without authorisation.

Regional overview: Gambling laws in Asia puts all 33 countries and territories on one map, grouped by how they regulate gambling.

Last reviewed: 14 October 2026.

Historical development

Thailand’s prohibition dates from the Gambling Act of 1935 (B.E. 2478 in the Thai Buddhist calendar). Under it, gambling is prohibited unless the Act or rules made under it permit it, and in practice the main lawful forms are the government lottery and authorised betting on horse races (Formichella & Sritawat, Chambers Gaming Law 2023 guide). Buddhist teaching counts gambling among the four vices that lead to ruin (abaiyamuk), a point frequently raised in public debate on legalisation.

The state lottery was established shortly afterwards. The Government Lottery Office was set up in 1939, with a government lottery draw board (Asia Pacific Lottery Association). Under the Government Lottery Office Act 1974, its lottery is “the only legally sanctioned form of lottery in Thailand”, apart from limited lotteries run by approved organisations such as the Thai Red Cross Society and the Government Savings Bank (Chambers guide). Results are announced on the 1st and 16th of each month, and the Bangkok Post describes the Government Lottery Office as the state enterprise that contributes the most revenue to the government (Bangkok Post).

Despite the ban, illegal gambling remains widespread: Asia Gaming Brief put Thailand’s underground gambling economy at an estimated THB1.1 trillion a year in 2025 (Asia Gaming Brief). The persistence of this market was one of the arguments advanced by the government that proposed legalisation in 2025, which presented casino licensing partly as a way to “solve illegal gambling”.

Legal framework

Illustrated Thailand landmarks with reference books and documents for the relevant legislation section

The Gambling Act 1935

The Gambling Act of 1935 is the central statute. It prohibits organising and taking part in gambling except where the law specifically allows it. The lawful exceptions in practice are the government lottery and betting on horse races at authorised racecourses. Casinos, slot machines, sports betting with bookmakers, card games for money and betting on animal fights all fall within the prohibition. No law authorises gambling over the internet.

The Act sorts games into two schedules. Games in List A are prohibited, and games in List B may be played only with a licence; casinos are unlawful because they appear in neither list and no ministerial regulation permits them (Chambers guide). Penalties vary by game: for most listed games they reach two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to THB2,000, or both, and for gambling not listed in the Act one year’s imprisonment, a fine of up to THB1,000, or both (same source). Organising unauthorised gambling involving THB5 million or more, or organising gambling electronically, is also a predicate offence under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and money laundering carries one to ten years’ imprisonment, a fine of THB20,000 to THB200,000, or both (same source).

The Playing Cards Act

A separate law restricts possession of playing cards themselves. The UK government’s travel advice for Thailand states: “Under the Playing Cards Act (1943) it is illegal to carry over one hundred and twenty playing cards. Violation of the Act could lead to prosecution, a fine, or even imprisonment.”

Regulator and licensing model

Thailand has a prohibition model with a state lottery. There is no gambling regulator that licenses private operators, because there is nothing to license. The Government Lottery Office runs the lottery as a state enterprise, betting on horse races is permitted as the other statutory exception, and the police and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society deal with illegal gambling.

The proposed Entertainment Complex Act would have created a licensing system for casinos for the first time (see “Recent and upcoming developments” below). Because the bill was withdrawn, no casino licensing body exists.

Online gambling and enforcement

Online casino games on mobile devices

The Gambling Act does not regulate online gambling specifically, but the authorities treat it as an offence under sections 4 and 4 bis, so it is prohibited for organisers and participants alike (Chambers Gaming Law 2023). The Gambling Act’s prohibition applies to gambling regardless of the medium, and no Thai authority has ever issued a licence for an online casino or betting site. The fact that a website is hosted abroad, holds a foreign licence or accepts Thai customers does not make it lawful to use from Thailand.

Enforcement relies on blocking, meaning orders that require internet service providers to stop Thai users from reaching a site, and on criminal investigations into the people and bank accounts behind gambling operations. Blocking orders rest on the Computer Crime Act 2007, which is not a gambling law, and their effect is limited by the use of virtual private networks (Chambers guide). In February 2025 the Department of Special Investigation arrested an administrator of an online gambling network through which, it said, more than 500 million baht had circulated, on charges of jointly organising unauthorised online gambling and money laundering (Department of Special Investigation). In August 2025 police raided a house in Pathum Thani linked to a gambling website valued at THB56 million and seized THB28 million in cash, luxury goods and vehicles (Asia Gaming Brief). Because sites can change domain names quickly, blocking reduces access rather than eliminating it.

Position of players

The Gambling Act prohibits taking part in unlawful gambling as well as organising it, so a person who gambles at an unlicensed casino or online site is not in a legally protected position; the Act’s fines and prison terms apply to players as well as to organisers (Chambers guide). There is no lawful online alternative apart from purchasing government lottery tickets through authorised channels. Players who use offshore sites also have no regulator to turn to if winnings are not paid or accounts are closed, and money sent to such sites may be caught up in investigations into the bank accounts used by gambling networks. Visitors should also bear in mind the Playing Cards Act’s limit of 120 cards.

Taxation

Gambling is not taxed as a lawful industry in Thailand because, apart from the lottery, horse racing and other activities licensed under List B, it is not lawful. For licensed activities the Gambling Act sets its own taxes: 10% of totalisator revenue in Bangkok and 5% in other provinces, similar rates for bookmaking and lotteries, and an additional 2.5% for the local administrative organisation where the gambling takes place (Chambers Gaming Law 2023). The withdrawn Entertainment Complex Bill proposed a casino tax of 17% on revenue after winnings paid to players (Tilleke & Gibbins); that proposal has no legal effect.

Consumer protection and responsible gambling

Secure account login with a padlock and shield With no licensed gambling sector other than the lottery and racing, Thailand has no operator-based self-exclusion scheme or regulated complaints system for gambling, and no legislation or guideline sets out responsible gambling requirements (Chambers guide). People affected by gambling problems can use the 24-hour mental health hotline 1323 run by the Department of Mental Health, which provides free and confidential counselling. General guidance is also available in our responsible gambling guide.

The debate over the casino bill brought responsible gambling into public discussion. The government’s revised draft of March 2025 included restrictions on Thai citizens’ access to casinos, described below, which were justified as safeguards against harm to local gamblers. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said a dedicated regulatory committee would use technology such as AI-equipped surveillance cameras, and that people showing patterns of frequent gambling or excessive spending “may be tracked and potentially banned” (Khaosod English).

Recent and upcoming developments: the Entertainment Complex Bill

Drafting and Cabinet approval

By September 2024 the government led by the Pheu Thai party was preparing a bill to legalise casinos inside large integrated “entertainment complexes”. The law firm Tilleke & Gibbins summarised the draft as providing a 30-year “super licence”, renewable for 10 years, for companies incorporated in Thailand with paid-up capital of at least THB10 billion, and a possible entry levy for Thai residents (Tilleke & Gibbins). On 13 January 2025 the Cabinet approved a draft bill. According to The Diplomat, the government expected to grant five initial licences, two in Bangkok and one each in Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Gaming areas would be limited to 5% of each complex’s total area, and the casinos would sit within resorts that also included hotels, theme parks, shopping malls and sports venues. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat projected that the complexes could raise foreign visitor numbers by 5 to 10% and create 9,000 to 15,000 jobs. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the aims were to “increase revenue, support investment in Thailand, and solve illegal gambling”.

Restrictions on Thai citizens

On 27 March 2025 the Cabinet approved a revised draft prepared by the Council of State, the government’s legal advisory body. It limited gaming areas to 10% of each complex and required Thai nationals wishing to gamble to hold a fixed deposit of at least 50 million baht for at least six months (Khaosod English). Mr Julapun opposed that threshold, noting that “only 10,000 people in Thailand have 50 million baht in a bank account”, and suggested instead a requirement of three consecutive years of income-tax payments; the Cabinet nevertheless forwarded the Council of State’s version to Parliament (Bangkok Post).

Opposition and withdrawal

Opposition grew during 2025. On 9 April 2025, the date originally set for the bill’s first reading, which the government had postponed, protesters gathered outside Parliament to demand that the bill be scrapped rather than delayed; they included the Thai Pakdee Party, a student and citizens’ reform network and religious leaders, among them the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bangkok (Asia Gaming Brief). Objections came from religious and educational bodies, academics and members of the coalition partner Bhumjaithai, and some commentators called for a referendum (Bangkok Post). After a political crisis that led to Prime Minister Paetongtarn’s suspension by the Constitutional Court on 1 July 2025, and Bhumjaithai’s departure from the coalition, the government decided to withdraw the bill (Associated Press via Khaosod English, 8 July 2025). On 9 July 2025 the House of Representatives voted 253 to 65 to withdraw it from deliberation (The Nation). During the debate, the opposition People’s Party argued that there was “no clear evidence regarding the economic and social impacts” of legalising casinos, and MPs raised concerns about inadequate control measures, money laundering and corruption risks, the possible consequences for neighbouring Myanmar and Cambodia, and the lack of data on how many Thais would gamble in the new casinos. Opposition MPs asked the government to confirm that the bill would not return during that legislative session and argued that the question should instead be put to voters at the next election.

Why the bill was withdrawn

According to the Associated Press, the Cabinet withdrew the bill after the Bhumjaithai Party had quit the government and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra had been suspended by the Constitutional Court; the agency also noted that the bill “has faced strong opposition from the public”. Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said the government only wanted to delay the bill and would reintroduce it “at an appropriate time” (Associated Press via Khaosod English, 8 July 2025).

Current status

The withdrawn bill has no legal effect, and the Gambling Act of 1935 continues to apply without change. On 23 September 2025 a Senate committee formally rejected the bill, citing concerns about social impacts, infrastructure costs and national security (iGaming Business).

Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of Bhumjaithai, was elected Prime Minister on 5 September 2025 and said that Thailand would have to “wait for another prime minister” before casinos could be legalised (iGaming Business, 11 September 2025). In remarks reported on 3 November 2025, he said he had told Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC meetings that his government did not support legal casinos and would not revive the legislation while he was in office (iGaming Business). Bhumjaithai won 191 seats in the general election of February 2026 and formed a coalition that includes Pheu Thai, the bill’s original sponsor. On 19 March 2026 the House re-elected Mr Anutin as Prime Minister with 293 votes, and Asia Gaming Brief reported that casino legalisation remained off the table (Asia Gaming Brief, 19 March 2026).

As of October 2026, we found no reliable report that a casino bill had been reintroduced to Parliament. Some outlets have reported discussions about reviving the proposal, but we could not confirm these from official sources. Any future proposal would need a new bill to pass through both houses.

Sources and further reading

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Thailand travel advice: safety and security (accessed 5 October 2026).
The Diplomat, Thai Cabinet Approves Draft Law Legalizing Gambling (January 2025).
Bangkok Post, B50 million bank balance requirement stays in casino bill for now (2025).
Bangkok Post, Thai casino bill hits hard wall (2025).
Associated Press (via Khaosod English), Thailand’s Cabinet Withdraws a Controversial Bill to Legalize Casinos (8 July 2025).
The Nation, House of Representatives approves withdrawal of Entertainment Complex Bill (9 July 2025).
Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Public Health, Official website and 1323 hotline (accessed 5 October 2026).
Formichella & Sritawat, Chambers and Partners, Gaming Law 2023: Thailand – Law and Practice (2023).
Tilleke & Gibbins, Thailand’s New Frontier: Casino Landscape Set for Change (September 2024).
Asia Pacific Lottery Association, History of lotteries in Thailand (2021).
Bangkok Post, Lottery tells a tale of Thai dreams (accessed 14 October 2026).
Department of Special Investigation, DSI arrests administrator of online gambling network (5 February 2025).
Asia Gaming Brief, Thailand continues crackdown on illegal gambling websites, busting $1.73M platform (6 August 2025).
Khaosod English, Thai Cabinet Limits Casino Space to 10% in Entertainment Complex Bill (28 March 2025).
Asia Gaming Brief, Thai protesters demand complete withdrawal of casino bill (9 April 2025).
Agence France-Presse via Cambodianess, Thailand Drops Casino Legalisation Plans after PM Suspended (8 July 2025).
Macau Business, Thai Cabinet pulls casino bill to avert attack, prepare robust version (July 2025).
iGaming Business, Thailand’s new PM says no casinos while he’s in office (11 September 2025).
iGaming Business, Senate committee in Thailand rejects casino bill, but legislation could return (25 September 2025).
iGaming Business, Thailand PM reiterates no-casino stance in Xi meeting (3 November 2025).
Asia Gaming Brief, Thailand vote secures PM Anutin’s leadership, keeps casino legalization off the table (19 March 2026).

Casino listings for players in Thailand

The listings below are generated automatically from our casino database. They do not show that an operator is authorised in Thailand. Online gambling is illegal in Thailand, no Thai authority licenses online casinos, and offering online casino games to people in Thailand is not permitted. The listings must not be read as an indication that playing is lawful. For background on Thai law, see the UK government’s travel advice.

888 Casino

100% up to

€500

+ 100 Spins

Liberty Slots Casino

No Deposit Bonus

$ 18

Tsars Casino

100% up to

€300

+ 100 Spins

Casino Extreme

200 Spins

Related News

New-commission-opens-review-into-whether-UK-needs-a-new-Gambling-Act

UK Gambling Review Puts Racing Funding in Focus

Illustration of a courthouse with columns under a globe outline at night, with a gavel resting on its block, a stack of case files tied with a red ribbon and seal, and two casino chips

Gambling Regulation Roundup: Brazil’s Top Court Freezes Betting Cases, CFTC Targets Geoblocks and More

chatbots-went-live-first-KYC-models-are-still-rare

Malta Examines AI Risks in Gaming

Illustration of a ballot slip dropping into a ballot box, a gavel and a stamped decree in front of a courthouse with columns, with a globe and a padlock in the background

Gambling Regulation Roundup: Nebraska Rejects Online Betting, Haiti Creates a Regulator and More

PRAGMATIC-PLAY-ROLLS-OUT-SMART-STUDIO-SOLUTION-FOR-RANK-GROUP

Pragmatic Play Rolls Out Smart Studio Tables for Rank Group