Despite Thailand’s efforts to restore the flow of tourists from China, the issue of casino legalization has been definitively taken off the table — following a second intervention in two years by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, assured the Chinese leader that the government would not pursue legislative initiatives to legalize casinos, against the backdrop of strengthening bilateral ties and rising expectations for the recovery of the tourism sector.
According to local sources, during their meeting at last week’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, Xi Jinping expressed satisfaction that Bangkok had abandoned plans to regulate the gambling market.
Previously, Thai authorities had considered boosting the tourism sector by introducing casinos as part of large integrated resort complexes. However, the bill was withdrawn earlier this year amid a political crisis that resulted in Charnvirakul replacing Paetongtarn Shinawatra as Prime Minister.
Shinawatra’s initiatives faced strong opposition both domestically and from foreign partners, including China.
In February, Xi Jinping had already highlighted the social and criminal risks that could result from legalizing casinos in Thailand.
Since taking office, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has repeatedly emphasized that gambling legalization is not part of his government’s plans. He also recently reversed the July decision to recognize poker as an official sport.
“The talks went well and were full of mutual understanding. Jinping appeared more at ease when he learned that the current Thai government has no policy to legalise casinos. This means the Chinese government will support its citizens in visiting Thailand with confidence,”— Charnvirakul told reporters.
The decline in Chinese tourist arrivals reflects a broader negative trend: in the first half of 2025, 2.26 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand — 34% fewer than in 2024.
Previously, Xi Jinping noted that China could advise its citizens to avoid countries whose policies conflict with China’s principles. Given the strict gambling ban in mainland China, Thailand’s previous plans to legalize casinos may have reduced the destination’s appeal for Chinese tourists.
Beijing’s support is crucial for Thailand as it seeks to restore its status as a leading tourism hub amid growing competition in Southeast Asia. Tourism accounts for around 12% of the country’s GDP and employs roughly 20% of the population, both directly and indirectly.
Additionally, according to China’s embassy in India, the leaders agreed to cooperate in combating transnational crimes, including online gambling and telecom fraud.
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