Gambling & Gaming Law

Most gambling in Thailand is illegal under the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 (1935), one of the country's oldest active statutes. The Act divides games into those that are outright prohibited and those that may be permitted only with official approval. The main lawful forms are the state-run Government Lottery and licensed horse racing; almost everything else — casinos, most sports betting, and online gambling — is unlawful, and both operators and, in many cases, players can be penalised. In 2025 the government advanced an 'Entertainment Complex' Bill that would have legalised integrated resorts including casinos, but the Cabinet withdrew the bill in mid-2025 amid political turmoil, so casinos remain illegal and the reform's future is uncertain. This hub explains the current prohibitions, the narrow exceptions, and the status of reform.