Is gambling legal in Thailand? The short answer is no, with very few exceptions. Apart from a handful of state-run or government-licensed activities, almost all gambling in Thailand is illegal, and online gambling is illegal without exception. Thailand has no legal casinos. Gambling is still governed by the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 of 1935, which is administered by the Ministry of Interior. There are essentially only two legal routes: the national lottery run by the Government Lottery Office (GLO), and betting on horse races at licensed racecourses.
If you are coming from China to visit, work or settle in Thailand, keep a few points in mind. Players themselves are punished for taking part in illegal gambling, and foreigners may also face deportation. The much-discussed Entertainment Complex bill, which would have legalised casinos, was withdrawn in 2025 and, as of October 2026, has not been reintroduced in Parliament. Chinese law also imposes criminal liability for organising or recruiting PRC citizens to gamble abroad. This page covers law and regulation only; it does not recommend any operator or provide information on any website. Gambling content is for readers aged 18 and over.
The legal framework: the Gambling Act of 1935
The Gambling Act sorts games into two lists. List A covers most card, dice and roulette-type games and private lotteries. They are banned in principle and can only be allowed at a specific place by royal decree when the government considers it appropriate. List B includes animal contests such as horse racing, lotteries and raffles, totalisators, mah-jong and some card games, and these may only be run with a prior licence. Games not on either list may only be played for money if a ministerial regulation expressly permits them.
The Minister of Interior is responsible for the Act. Licences are issued by licensing officers, locally through the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and provincial and district officials, while the police handle enforcement. You can read the English translation of the Gambling Act published by the Department of Provincial Administration (the Thai text is authoritative).
What gambling is legal
| Type | Legal status (as of October 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Government lottery (GLO) | Legal | Draws on the 1st and 16th of each month; official ticket price 80 baht; first prize 6 million baht per ticket |
| Horse-race betting | Legal (licensed racecourses only) | List B, licence required; Bangkok’s Royal Turf Club closed in 2018 |
| Casinos | Illegal | The Entertainment Complex bill was withdrawn; there are no licensed casinos |
| Online casinos and online betting | Illegal | No online gambling licences exist; foreign licences are not valid in Thailand |
| Underground lotteries, football bookmaking | Illegal | A key enforcement target |
| Cash poker | Illegal | A ministerial order allowed it under conditions in July 2025; it was revoked in October 2025 |
For more on land-based casinos, see Casinos in Thailand.
Minimum age and penalties
Under Section 7 of the Gambling Act, people under 20 (the age of majority under Thai civil law) may not take part in licensed gambling, lotteries excepted. Claiming a large lottery prize also requires the winner to show identification in person.
Under Section 12, organising a List A game or a private lottery carries 3 months to 3 years in prison plus a fine of 500 to 5,000 baht. Players face up to 3 years in prison, a fine of up to 5,000 baht, or both. Other illegal gambling carries up to 2 years and a fine of up to 2,000 baht. At the mid-market rate of about 0.198 yuan per baht on 23 October 2026, 5,000 baht is roughly 990 yuan. The fines may look small, but for foreigners a conviction can also lead to deportation and an entry blacklist, which affects visas and long-term residence.
Online gambling: illegal without exception
Thailand issues no online gambling licences. Whatever licence a website claims and wherever its servers are, playing at online casinos, online sportsbooks or online lotteries from inside Thailand is illegal. Besides prosecution under the Gambling Act, the authorities block sites under the Computer Crime Act. Section 12 also punishes anyone who advertises or promotes illegal gambling or directly or indirectly invites others to take part; influencers who promoted gambling sites have been prosecuted.
Enforcement stepped up in 2026. According to the Thai government, a special operation during the World Cup from 6 to 14 June 2026 led to 596 cases and 629 arrests, 128 gambling websites or URLs were blocked, and linked transactions exceeded 2.15 billion baht (about 425 million yuan).
Why online gambling is risky and why you should not try it is covered in Online Gambling Law in Thailand.
On 16 October 2026 the Chinese Embassy in Thailand warned that several Chinese citizens had gone missing after entering Thailand, some illegally detained and moved to the Thailand–Myanmar border. The lures included high-paying jobs, business trips, investment deals and filming or performance invitations. Do not hand over your passport, phone or bank cards, stay away from the Thailand–Myanmar border, and in an emergency call Thai police on 191, the Tourist Police on 1155 (Chinese-language service) or the Chinese MFA consular hotline on +86-10-12308.
Casino legalisation: where the Entertainment Complex bill stands
- January 2025Cabinet approves the Entertainment Complex Business bill in principle
- March 2025Cabinet approves a revised draft: casino floor capped at 10% of the complex; Thais pay a 5,000-baht entry fee and need 50 million baht in deposits
- 9 July 2025The House votes 253 to 65 to withdraw the bill
- September 2025A Senate committee rejects the plan and recommends a referendum for any future attempt
- December 2025Parliament is dissolved and the bill lapses
- 19 March 2026After the February election, Parliament re-elects Anutin Charnvirakul as prime minister with 293 votes; according to media reports, he says there will be no casinos while he is in office
Some media reported that the governing coalition revisited the idea in principle in May 2026, but an August 2026 report said no new draft had been tabled and no parliamentary date set; as of October 2026 we found no report of a new bill being submitted to Parliament and no casino licences exist. Online claims that Thailand has opened casinos or that you can reserve casino access in advance are not credible.
How lottery winnings are taxed
Individuals who win the government lottery are exempt from personal income tax under Section 42(11) of the Revenue Code but pay 0.5% stamp duty; a 6-million-baht first prize loses about 30,000 baht (around 5,900 yuan). Charity lottery prizes carry no stamp duty but are subject to 1% withholding tax. Prizes from other sources are generally taxed as income. By comparison, in China a single welfare or sports lottery prize above 10,000 yuan is taxed at 20%, so Thailand’s lottery tax burden is clearly lower (as of October 2026).
Chinese law: it still applies abroad
Article 303 of the PRC Criminal Law sets out the crimes of gambling and of operating a gambling house. Amendment XI, in force since 1 March 2021, added a third paragraph creating the crime of organising participation in gambling abroad: organising PRC citizens to gamble outside China, where the amounts are huge or other circumstances are serious, is punished in the same way as operating a gambling house. These provisions target group gambling, running gambling venues, and organising or recruiting Chinese citizens to gamble abroad, so be especially wary of well-paid jobs in Thailand described as “bringing customers”, “agent” or “customer service”. This page is general information only and is not legal advice; see our disclaimer.
Responsible gambling and help
- The Department of Mental Health hotline 1323 operates 24 hours a day and takes calls about gambling problems.
- To report illegal gambling or gambling websites, call the police on 191 or 1599 (24 hours).
- Buy lottery tickets only at the official price of 80 baht through official channels; many online “Thai lottery” platforms are in fact illegal private lotteries.
To compare with a neighbouring country, read Gambling Laws in Singapore; for more on life in Thailand, see our Thailand moving and living guide.
FAQ
Can Chinese tourists legally visit a casino in Thailand?
No. As of October 2026 Thailand has no legal casinos, and players caught in underground casinos are also punished.
Is it illegal to use a foreign gambling website on my phone in Thailand?
Yes. Thailand issues no online gambling licences and foreign licences are not valid there. Players face up to 3 years in prison plus a fine, and foreigners may be deported.
Can foreigners buy the Thai government lottery?
Yes, at the official ticket price. Prizes must be claimed in person with identification; individual winners pay no income tax but 0.5% stamp duty is deducted.
Will Thailand legalise casinos?
The original bill was withdrawn in 2025 and lapsed when Parliament was dissolved. As of October 2026 we found no new bill submitted, and according to media reports the current prime minister has said he will not pursue it.
Sources
- Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) – Gambling Act B.E. 2478 (1935), unofficial English translation (accessed October 2026)
- Royal Thai Government (thailand.go.th) – Thailand Intensifies Operations against 2026 World Cup Gambling, 16 June 2026 (accessed October 2026)
- Thailand Government Public Relations Department (PRD) – ครม.เห็นชอบ ร่าง พ.ร.บ.ธุรกิจสถานบันเทิงครบวงจร (2025) (accessed October 2026)
- Bangkok Post – Opposition blames tourism losses on casino policy (House vote to withdraw the bill, July 2025) (accessed October 2026)
- iGaming Business – Return of Anutin as Thailand PM dashes hopes for IR industry, 19 March 2026 (accessed October 2026)
- iGaming Business – Senate committee in Thailand rejects casino bill, September 2025 (accessed October 2026)
- Thaiger – Thailand’s casino bill is quiet, not dead: where legalisation stands, August 2026 (accessed October 2026)
- Asia Gaming Brief – Thai PM Anutin reinstates ban on poker, 23 October 2025 (accessed October 2026)
- ThaiPublica – กรมสรรพากรชี้ ถูกลอตเตอรี่แบบไหนไม่เสียภาษี (Revenue Department rules on lottery prizes), October 2022 (accessed October 2026)
- Thai PBS – กรมสุขภาพจิต เปิดสายด่วน 1323 รับปรึกษาปัญหาพนัน (accessed October 2026)
- 澎湃新闻（转载中国驻泰国使馆）– 泰国发生多起中国公民失踪失联案件，中使馆提醒，2026年10月16日 (accessed October 2026)
- 中国新闻网（转载法治日报）– 刑法修正案（十一）3月1日起施行，2021年2月23日 (accessed October 2026)
- Key Currency – THB to CNY mid-market rate, 23 October 2026 (accessed October 2026)
