Thailand's Cabinet has approved draft legislation for casino resorts, marking a significant step toward establishing legal gambling in the kingdom. The bill proposes authorizing entertainment complexes in four major cities: Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's government aims to boost tourism and economic growth through these developments. The initiative is expected to increase foreign visitor numbers by 5-10% and raise tourism spending from 120 billion baht to 220 billion baht ($3.45B to $6.32B).

Key aspects of the proposal:

• Five integrated resort developments planned
• Projected annual gaming revenue of $9.1 billion
• Expected tax revenue of $1.5 billion (17% GGR tax)
• Creation of 9,000-15,000 new jobs

The Council of State, Thailand's legal advisory body, has raised concerns about:

• Alignment with traditional values
• Effectiveness in combating illegal gambling
• Need for minimum requirements for non-gaming amenities

Currently, legal gambling in Thailand is limited to the state lottery and horse racing. The casino bill must now gain approval from Parliament before implementation. If successful, these developments could significantly impact Thailand's tourism sector, which previously contributed 20% to the country's GDP before the pandemic.

With a GDP of approximately US$520 billion, Thailand seeks to diversify its economy beyond traditional industrial and service sectors through this initiative, following the successful model of other Southeast Asian casino destinations.

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