Gambling Act (Thailand)

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Gambling Act
Seal of command of Thai monarch.svg
House of Representatives of Siam
  • Gambling Act BE 2478
Territorial extent Thailand
Enacted by House of Representatives of Siam
Enacted31 January 1935
Assented to byCouncil of Regency on behalf of King Ananda Mahidol
Commenced1 February 1935
Status: In force

The Gambling Act BE 2478, commonly referred to as the Gambling Act, is a 1935 Thai Act of Parliament prohibiting most forms of gambling. [1] [2]

Contents

Legislative history

The Act was passed by the House of Representatives and assented to by the Council of Regency on behalf of King Ananda Mahidol on 31 January 1935. [3] The Council consisted of Captain Aditya Dibabha, Chaophraya Yommara j, and General Chaophraya Bijendrayothin. [3] The act came into force following its publication in the Royal Gazette the following day on 1 February 1935. [3]

Implementation and results

As a result of the Gambling Act, gambling in Thailand is heavily restricted. [4] The only forms of legal gambling are an official lottery and state-run horse racing. [2] [5]

On 13 January 2025, the Cabinet of Thailand approved a draft Entertainment Complex Bill to legalize casinos in Thailand. [6] [7] However, the draft bill was later withdrawn.

In addition, lawmakers have discussed the possibility of regulating online gambling as part of broader reforms, though no specific online gaming framework has been passed yet.

See also

References

  1. "More bets please: Thailand's long love affair with legal gambling". nationthailand. 2025-01-21. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  2. 1 2 "Thai Cabinet Approves Draft Law Legalizing Gambling". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  3. 1 2 3 "Gambling Act, B.E. 2478 1935 พระราช | PDF | Fine (Penalty) | Taxes". Scribd. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  4. "'More harm than good' in Thailand's online gambling push". Bangkok Post. 2025-01-12. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  5. Reporters, Post (2022-08-13). "Gambling with Thailand's future". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  6. "Thailand's Cabinet approves a draft bill to legalize casinos to boost tourism and economy". AP News. 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
  7. Chantanusornsiri, Wichit (2024-10-24). "Casino law expected to be sent to cabinet this year". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2025-02-26.