Online Casinos in Thailand
A slight concern with Thailand online casinos is that gambling legislation in Thailand is strict. Online casino players need to be aware of this to avoid getting into trouble with the authorities, because there are no regulatory bodies supervising casino activities.
This means they’re on their own. However, they should have nothing to worry about as long as they are fully aware of their gambling activities and how much money they’re risking.
The good news? Despite the strict rules, online casinos in Thailand and the industry of gambling is flourishing. It has even blossomed into a massive industry that generates billions of revenue yearly, thus allowing Thai players to play online casino games without any limitations.
The Gambling History in Thailand
Thailand’s gambling history dates back to the 10th century. Back then, a gambling game is known as “bean counting” was making strides in society. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Bangkok was rife with gambling and gambling addiction.
King Rama III, in 1830, legalized gambling establishments on the kingdom’s territory, in order to generate additional revenue for the kingdom’s coffers.
To finance the country’s entry into World War I, a lottery drawing was organized by King Rama V. By the end of 1939, so the lottery became functionally legal.
The 1940s saw the legalization of land casinos in Thailand under the helm of the Ministry of Finance, but land based casinos were only allowed to let in wealthy players, in order to maximize tax revenue.
Gambling Nowadays in Thailand
This proved to be a huge failure, as Thailand casinos disobeyed the government and let in anyone who wanted to play. This resulted a massive addiction problems and a re-ban on all forms of gambling on Thailand soil, intensified by the gambling act that specifies the gambling laws within the country.
The ban remains effective to this day, and given that the country generally has a negative view towards gambling, we don’t see it lifted anytime in the near future.
Future of Online Casinos in Thailand
Despite of Thailand’s gambling history, the future of the best online casino sites in the country is bright, but it isn’t moving towards legalization. On the contrary, it’s even looking to go against it. This is the reason why nothing significant is happening where gambling websites are concerned.
Regardless of Thailand’s opposition to the legalization of gambling, there are still several land based casinos in the country. The goal of these casinos is to provide entertainment and not strongly oppose the country’s strictness per se. Plus, the gambling industry’s real money casino sites are growing at a tremendous rate.
Thai players appreciate that for playing their favourite online casino games they do not have to go to a physical location. Instead, with the best online casino sites, they can simply stay in their hotel rooms or homes to play and take in the complete casino experience.
Is Gambling Legal in Thailand?
Gambling is rampant across the territory of Thailand. However, on paper, online casino gambling and land based one is illegal in the country. The situation is unclear in terms of online gambling because of the lack of specific laws pertaining to Thai casino sites.
In reality, Thais enjoy gambling, even high-schoolers are known to engage in casual forms of gambling. Also, many Thai players can be seen enjoying online casino games or poker in Internet cafes across the country.
Thailand’s Gambling Act of Bf.E. 2478 states the following:
“Permission is forbidden to organize, play or gamble in games specified in LIST A annexed to this Act or similar games or any other bad games which the responsible Minister has issued a Ministerial Regulation naming as additional items of prohibition.”
This means that the only legal forms of gambling are:
- Two horse race tracks available in Bangkok (Royal Turf Club, Royal Bangkok Sports Club)
- Thai lottery (State-run lottery with bi-monthly draws on the 1st and 16th of each month)
The Legality of Other Sorts of Gambling
All other gambling forms are illegal, and individuals can face up to 1 year of imprisonment and/or a fine of ฿1000 (roughly USD$32).
Since there are no native Thailand online casinos, Thais turn to foreign online gambling sites. It is estimated that Thais place billions of USD$ in bets on an annual basis across online gambling sites, sports betting sites, and poker rooms.
This does not mean that one can’t get in trouble for gambling at foreign gambling online sites. But, if the player is careful, the chances of facing legal repercussions are virtually zero. As long as the player keeps their activities to themselves, they minimize the risk of someone reporting them to the authorities, which should be more than enough to keep the players safe when playing online.
The Thailand government forces ISPs to IP-block a good portion of foreign online casinos, but many of them are still available for access and serve thousands of Thai customers on a daily basis.
Thai Players Favorite Online Casino Games
As gambling has been historically popular throughout Thailand, Thais enjoy all forms of gambling, including favourite casino games:
- Online Slots
- Live Casino Games
- Dice
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Slot Machines
Sports betting is also very popular in Thailand. Betting on horse races, motorsports, water sports, football, and basketball are all very prominent forms of gambling.
If you're not keen on playing just the national lottery, then you might want to try out these genres when playing the next time at an online casino Thailand website:
Online Slots
No genre can match slots at the best Thai casinos. There are thousands of slots out there, with the most famous ones being from Microgaming and NetEnt. These obviously can't be played in a live casino, however, they are usually the most popular option for a welcome bonus or mobile play in Thailand.
Progressive Slots
The name is perhaps a bit tricky to understand. However, it basically means that the game will include a progressive jackpot. This sort of jackpot may be connected by a network of gambling sites. The lucky player who's able to win the jackpot, will then be paid out huge sums that often go beyond the millions of dollars.
Table Games
We're certain you haven't just learned about the terms blackjack, roulette, or poker. These games are a staple within the best casino sites all over the world. However, what makes these stand out in Thailand online gambling is the fact that you can play them either live or as standard casino games. Here's a short breakdown of each one:
Roulette
If you're going to try out a Thai casino online, then chances are, that you're going to check out roulette. This is the mother of all table games, mainly because it's famous all over the world and not just in our country. As you may already know, the game is played with a wheel and a playing field with multiple options.
Blackjack
If you're into quick and exciting card games, perhaps blackjack is the best option when you're about to play at the most trusted online casino Thailand. Blackjack is also the most popular card game in North America, mainly due to the influence of Las Vegas. In comparison to roulette, blackjack is played with just two cards and against the dealer.
Poker
You don't have to jump to a regular Thailand online casino to see poker. This game has become so popular, that it's currently even about to make its breakthrough into professional sports. That's why poker tournaments attract millions of fans, and also why the game is popular in every Thai casino online out there.
Baccarat
Given that we're in Asia, we also must talk about the huge role that baccarat plays in any Thailand online casino website. Baccarat originated as a sub-genre of blackjack, although much faster. The game is not that popular in North America or Europe, since it's seen as a unique and almost exclusive Asian card game.
Live Dealer Games
If all these table games sound interesting, then it's likely that you'll end up playing at a live casino. What a live dealer casino does is offer you games that are streamed in real-time from real studios. Therefore, it's like playing at a land based casino, although all from the comfort of your home.
Game Shows
This is a genre within a genre. Game shows are basically a crucial element to the live experience. Some of these game are famous TV titles such as Deal or No Deal, as well as classic board games like Monopoly Live. The difference with these live dealer games is that they have hosts, instead of dealers.
Video Poker
If you're looking for high payout rates in a Thailand online casino, then we suggest you check out video poker. This game perhaps isn't as broad as online slots in an online casino in Thailand, but it's fantastic for anyone who wants to put skills and luck into the mix. In fact, video poker usually tends to offer payout rates that are only comparable to blackjack, with the tendency being above 98%.
Other Games
Although the games that we've just mentioned make up for most of the library at a casino online, there are also multiple other titles that are worth checking out. Some of these games are keno, bingo, or scratch cards. However, even if these games aren't that popular, they are still included within the gambling laws in Thailand.
Popular Casino Bonuses in Thailand
Players can receive online casino bonuses in the best Thailand online casinos. The best online casino bonuses in the country are:
- Welcome Bonus - The welcome bonus is the online casino bonus Thai players get when signing up for a casino account. Often, to receive the welcome bonus, the players need to verify their account identity. Once they've done that, a welcome bonus usually offers free spins, a deposit bonus, or even cashback. That's why the welcome bonus is also the most popular online casino bonus Thailand. However, always remember to carefully check the wagering requirements and limits of the welcome bonus.
- First Deposit Bonus - Online casino players get a deposit bonus after making their first deposit. Sometimes, the deposit bonus can be of any amount, usually going from $100 to much more. Most of the time, though, the deposit needs to be in line with the required amount. Other rules also apply, depending on the specific online casino in Thailand. Plus, deposit bonuses are also incredibly popular as welcome bonus.
- Birthday Bonus - This casino bonus serves to honor players during their special day by granting them this bonus. A great thing about this bonus is it’s for every casino player. Some online casinos even give birthday bonuses for two days in a row (Saturday and Sunday) if the player’s birthday falls on a weekend.
- Reload Bonus - These deposit bonuses are granted by the best online casinos in Thailand to players when loading their accounts for the first time after their first deposit. Usually, this sort of bonus is aimed at slot games and even live casino games.
- Free Spins - Online casino players receive this bonus as a way of getting real money but exclusively for online slots. Basically, free spins can be awarded at a welcome bonus at multiple casinos online, which then serves as a way to try out new games or perhaps just your favourite casino games.
Payment Methods in Thailand
Thailand online casinos offer plenty of payment method options for safe and secure account withdrawals and/or deposits. Payment methods associated with major brands like Visa and MasterCard are accepted in Thai casino sites.
Popular but lesser-known methods like Neteller and Skrill are also accepted. And to make matters convenient for local players, online Thailand casinos also accept popular Thai e-Wallets like TrueMoney and PromptPay.
In addition to convenience, the focus of online casinos Thailand is to encourage people to try their best online casino games, considering how easy it is to fund their accounts.
Casino online in Thailand also use no specific payment method in the country. For online casino players to know if a particular payment method is acceptable, they should check with the specific online casino they’ll transfer funds to.
There is also no specific currency that casinos online in the country prefer. But since the country’s official currency is the Thai Baht, it’s good to use the currency when playing casino games there.
About the author
Ethan Lim
About
Ethan Lim, a native of the Lion City, is Singapore’s rising star in the domain of online casino guide localization. He masterfully blends his intimate knowledge of local culture with international gaming standards to produce content that resonates deeply with Singaporeans.