Inside Asian Gaming

IAG MAR 2022年3月 亞博匯 36 COVER STORY casinos are almost a different market. If there was an entry fee [at the IRs] to keep out localswho shouldn’t be gambling, that’s the market for underground casinos right there, because they don’t care. “As long as [the IR is] not in Bangkok then they could still profit from their illegal businesses.” Proponents of legalizing casino gambling in Thailand present some strong arguments. In part due to COVID-19 decimating the tourism sector – which the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council said contributed around 20% of Thailand’s GDP in 2020 – the Thai government has borrowed around THB1.5 trillion (US$46.4 billion) since the start of the pandemic, pushing total public debt to its highest level in 21 years at over THB9.6 trillion (US$297 billion), equal to 58.3% of GDP. At the same time, the quality of tourists visiting Thailand, measured by average tourist spend, has been falling compared with some of its regional neighbors. “Theyhaveneededsomething for some time to make Thailand more competitive,” a source said.