Alright, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of Thailand’s gambling scene. We’ll touch on the hot topics, like the legalities and regulations of betting, the ins and outs of choosing a top-notch casino, and we’ll also lay out the cream of the crop when it comes to Thailand’s online casinos. We’ll highlight the most popular and user-friendly payment systems for making a quick buck at online casinos, and also chat about sports betting in Thailand. And, of course, we can’t skip over various lotteries and other gambling games like poker and bingo. We’ll also spotlight the current vibes in the crypto market and where it stands, legally speaking.
Best Online Casinos For Thai People
Like many places, online gambling’s a no-go in Thailand. But playing at offshore casinos in gambling-friendly jurisdictions? That’s a whole other ball game.
As a result, Thai players can access a whole world of casinos. There’s no slap on the wrist for playing online, so you can kick back and enjoy the ride at any reputable joint. For your convenience, we’ve put together a list of the top casinos open to Thai players:
Gambling’s always been a big deal in modern Thailand. Back in the day, you’d have cockfights or bullfights, even boat races where punters would place their bets on the winner.
By the late 19th century, with an influx of Chinese migrants and foreign traders, Thailand saw a fresh wave of gambling games. Lotteries, initially played only by the Chinese, became a huge hit. For a while, the government turned a blind eye to gambling since it was a decent cash cow. But the tables turned during King Rama V’s reign. By 1917, every gambling joint was shut down, pushing the industry deep underground.
The first gambling law popped up in 1930, tweaked in 1935. According to this law, all forms of gambling, bar horse race betting and state lotteries, were off the table. Organizing them could land you hefty fines and a stint behind bars. This law, with a few tweaks here and there, still stands today.
Interestingly, various leaders have tried to green-light gambling in specific zones. For instance, during his prime ministerial term, Khuang Aphaiwong tasked the finance ministry with legalizing gambling in the Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The idea was to let players have their fun and let the state pocket some extra change. But this attempt bit the dust under public pressure, and the gambling zone was axed.
Legality and regulation of gambling
Currently, there are only two legit gambling activities in Thailand: horse race betting and the government lotteries. However, there’s a pretty sizable underground scene, with illegal brick-and-mortar casinos popping up in major cities and bookie joints on the side. Heads up: gambling in these in-person casinos and laying down bets at offline bookie spots is against the law. Get caught up in that scene, and you’re looking at some heavy fines and restrictions.
Now, the silver lining here? Hitting up online casinos and online sports betting. There’s no ban on these bad boys, mostly ’cause the law hasn’t caught up yet. Just gotta be sharp when picking your spot. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered with a list of the top online casinos at the start of this piece. Now let’s dive into how we picked ’em.
Choosing the best online casinos in Thailand
We’d like to let you in on the secret sauce behind our online casino picks. First off, you gotta know who’s behind the casino and who gave them the green light (aka the license). Then, it’s all about scoping out the user reviews on different sites and forums.
Once you’re done with that, check out how easy it is to drop some cash (deposit methods) and the sweet deals (bonuses) they’re throwing at newcomers and regulars. And if you’re all about gaming on-the-go, how well the site plays with mobile devices is a biggie.
Legality and Safety
Rule number one: always check who’s running the show. If it’s a big-name company that’s got a reputation on the line, chances are they’re legit. And we’re all about checking licenses from big players like MGA, AGGC, ONJN, UKGC, Curacao, etc.
User Feedback
Hearing the street talk (user reviews) is key. The best Thai casinos will always have tons of thumbs-ups and no unresolved drama. We keep our eyes peeled on different gaming forums to see how these places handle any beef with players.
Bonuses & Promotions
There’s a truckload of online casinos out there, each with its own bag of tricks (bonuses). We break down the fine print in our reviews and rankings to save you from any nasty surprises. Only the best deals for both newbies and regulars make it to our list.
Payment Systems
Last but not least, getting your money in (and out) is crucial. Not every joint lets you deposit straight from your bank card. That’s where e-wallets, prepaid cards, and crypto come in handy.
Customer Service
If you’ve got questions, the customer support team’s got your back. The best casinos in Thailand are on the ball 24/7 with live chat support right on their site. You can also shoot them an email if that’s more your speed.
Mobile Adaptation
Considering Thailand is pretty tech-savvy, it’s no surprise many locals prefer to hit the online slots from their phones. As a result, any top-notch casino site’s gotta be slick and smooth for all those smartphones and tablets out there, not to mention they need a user-friendly interface for cashing in and out.
Bonuses and promotions for Thai players
Thai players have got a buffet of bonuses to dive into. This includes a bunch of welcome bonuses up for grabs after signing up and regular perks to keep things spicy. Another sweet deal? All the races and tournaments thrown down by the online casinos and game providers. And don’t even get me started on the loyalty schemes where every tier gets you some dope rewards. Let’s break down the main types of bonuses.
Welcome Bonus
Welcome bonuses are like those goodies you get when you first come through the door. This could be a deposit match or a bunch of free spins. Most online casinos will throw in +100-300% on your deposit and 50-150 free spins. But sometimes you might stumble upon offers like +500% or even 300 free spins. Also, keep in mind these bonuses often roll out over your first few deposits.
Regular Player Bonuses
For the loyal crowd, there are cashback systems where you get some coin depending on your spins and total bets. Then there are those “lucky days” where the casino boosts your deposit, jacks up the cashback, and more. And the cherry on top for regular players? Those loyalty point systems. You rack up points with every spin. More points mean a higher rank and juicier rewards. Rewards can range from free spins, instant cash rewards, to invites to exclusive tournaments.
Races and Tournaments
Races and tournaments are another way to get in on the action, offered by both the casino and game providers. Usually, you’ll find these in a special tab. After signing up, check out the terms and the list of eligible games. In races and tourneys, you earn points for every task you nail. The higher you climb on the leaderboard, the bigger your prize haul. Points could come from scoring the highest multiplier in a slot or racking up multipliers across multiple slots.
Sports betting in Thailand
Placing wagers on sports in Thailand? It’s a no-go, except for horse racing bets. Still, folks can’t get enough of it, given how big of a deal sports are in Thailand. Since bookies are off-limits there, the Thai gamblers gotta take their action offshore, where they’re safe from the local law. Here’s the lowdown on the big-time sports that rake in most of the bets:
Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) – This is where fighters go toe-to-toe, with a big focus on some fierce leg kicks. No wonder it’s massive in Thailand. Thai fighters are often in the spotlight, bagging titles and stepping into the big leagues.
Soccer – A global obsession, and Thailand’s got the fever too. From street matches to stadium events, the Thais are all over it. Their national squad might not be top-tier, but they’re no strangers to the Asian Cups. And you bet there’s a betting frenzy, especially during the World Cup.
Sepaktakraw – Pure Asian flavor, kinda like volleyball but with a twist: no hands allowed. It’s got a strong fan base in places like Vietnam too. Simple rules, but man, it’s a blast to watch.
Weightlifting – This is where the real heavy-hitters come in. It’s got a decent following in Thailand, and the Thai lifters? They’re no slouches. They’re often on the podium, whether it’s at international meets or the Olympics. Might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s big among the younger crowd.
Taekwondo – Another martial art that’s all about those fancy footwork and kicks. Much like Muay Thai, it’s got a solid base in Thailand. The Thai athletes are major players on the world stage, often featuring in elite promotions.
Now, if you’re wondering about the go-to bookies in Thailand, names like BK8, 22BET, PariMatch, Wazamba, and ivip9 are buzzing.
Convenient payment systems
The tried-and-true options? Bank cards and transfers. But e-wallets are picking up steam, and occasionally, crypto sneaks in. The love for banking methods is simple: most Thais have got their cards and bank accounts sorted. Now, let’s dive deeper into these popular payment methods.
VISA/MasterCard
Hands down the easiest way to top up your online casino account. The real pain is that not every bank’s cool with these kinds of transactions, so your deposit might not always go through on the first try. Plus, a lot of Thai peeps aren’t into dropping their bank details all over the net.
Bank transfer
Old-school but solid for paying online casinos. Basically, you’re moving money from your bank account to the casino’s. You gotta hop into your bank’s online portal and send cash using the casino’s deets. The big win here is safety and no killer fees. The downside? It’s slow as molasses—sometimes it can take a few days.
EcoPayz
A payment system that’s a hot ticket among gamblers. No need to have a bank account to jump in. Just open an account, load it up however you like, and you can slam down a deposit at an online casino in a heartbeat.
Neteller
A world-famous e-wallet. Getting set up takes no time, and once you’re good to go, you can juice up your account and head straight to the casino. Tying it to your bank card’s the slickest move. And, get this, you can even snag a physical Neteller card to spend like any other piece of plastic.
Cryptocurrencies
Crypto’s big in Thailand. It’s a cinch to buy and use for all sorts. One big move? Depositing at online casinos since more and more sites are riding the crypto wave. It’s a breeze, transactions usually don’t take more than 15 minutes, and the fees for most coins are just a few bucks.
NOTIFY Thailand’s kinda the promised land for crypto junkies. The country itself was all in on cryptocurrencies being legit cash, letting all sorts of folks accept it as payment. In Thailand, you can easily snag various cryptos, either as an investment play or for different gigs like hitting up an online casino.
But here’s the twist: the government recently put the brakes on. Starting April 1, 2022, businesses in Thailand got the kibosh on using cryptos to pay for goods or services. This move came down because the bigwigs saw cryptos as a wrench in the country’s money-making machine. Still, it won’t touch online casino deposits since these sites aren’t Thai turf and don’t play by Thai rules.
Popular gambling providers in Thailand
In Thailand, there’s a dope leaderboard of the hottest game providers. This list includes both the global big dogs of the game world and the local homebrewed champs. The Thais are all about spicing things up with slots, so they’re vibing with providers who really bring the fun and pizzazz to the table. Extra brownie points for sick bonus rounds and those unique game mechanics. Now, let’s deep dive into the top 5 game makers that are absolutely killing it in Thailand.
Pragmatic Play
It ain’t no secret that these folks are straight-up the kings of the gaming scene. Even though they’re the new kids on the block, they’ve already dropped some fire games that have gamers worldwide absolutely hooked. We’re talking about those banger Bonanza series slots, the epic Megaways games, and the Hold & Win mechanics slots. And mad props for their ongoing tournaments and promos – you can count on scoring some sweet extras while you play.
Anakatech
This Bulgarian underdog has managed to score big with Thai gamers. They’ve brought their A-game with top-notch HTML5 games that tap into the heart of Asian culture vibes. Plus, they’ve got some rad game mechanics and a buffet of bonus rounds.
Elk Studios
Hailing from Sweden, this online casino game supplier is known for their boatload of wild game mechanics and their signature X-Iter function. Given how the Thai crowd loves diverse gameplay and sick mechanics, there’s no way they’d sleep on ELK. These dudes are probably the creme de la creme when it comes to variety in gameplay.
Play’N’Go
This provider is up there with Pragmatic Play, no intro needed. Over their illustrious career, they’ve dropped a ton of hits, including collabs with big-name brands and celebs. This strategy has helped them become legends not just in Thailand, but worldwide. And their off-the-charts graphics and sound? Just the cherry on top.
Evolution Gaming
The heavyweight champ that owns a piece of several popular providers, and they’re the numero uno when it comes to live games. They’re packing a huge arsenal of both card games and table games with live dealers, plus some one-of-a-kind game shows. Their rep for top-tier live games development is well-earned.
Land-based casinos in Thailand
Now, heads up: Officially, brick-and-mortar casinos in Thailand are a no-go. For years, the Thais have tried to legalize this kind of entertainment in specific zones, but no dice. There’s a massive underground casino scene scattered across the country, but playing in these joints? Bad idea. You’re not only risking losing your cash on sketchy, bootleg software but you’re also playing with fire when it comes to the law.
If you’re itching to hit up a real-life casino, your best bet is to bounce over to neighboring Cambodia. Over there, it’s all good – casinos are totally legit. Loads of spots cater specifically to Thai players, especially near the border.
Lotteries and other gambling entertainment in Thailand
In Thailand, lotteries are all the rage, especially since they’re on the up and up and backed by the bigwigs in government. The top dog among them is the Thai Lottery, run by the state-controlled Government Lottery Office (GLO). Every year, around 20 million Thais, roughly 30% of the country’s peeps, try their luck. They splurge about 76 billion Baht annually, which is around a whopping $2.6 billion.
To get in on the action, you gotta buy a ticket that’ll set you back 80 Baht. Most tickets are peddled by street sellers and special kiosks hanging around major malls and markets. Despite the official tag, some street sellers jack up the prices. Some ticket numbers are considered lucky or jinxed, which also messes with the price. There are two types of golden tickets:
TGL – Thai Government Lottery ticket
TCL – Thai Charity Lottery ticket
You can spot the type by peeping the top-right corner of the ticket. Each ticket type has its own jackpot:
For TGL tickets, it’s 6 million Baht for the top prize and a jaw-dropping 30 million for the bonus.
For TCL tickets, it’s a cool 3 and 22 million Baht, respectively.
In 2015, Thailand’s military junta axed the bonus prize category. Word on the street is it might make a comeback. The big draws happen on the 1st and 16th of each month unless it’s a holiday. If so, it’s pushed to the next day. They broadcast the whole shebang on TV, kicking off at 3 pm local time. The draw is pretty straightforward, but man, it’s a marathon: they use 10 machines which drop a total of about 165 balls. Depending on the magic combos, that’s how the moolah is dished out.
All in all, there are 9 prize tiers, each with its own set of lucky ducks.
Prize Category
Number of prizes
Payment
First prize
1
6,000,000 THB
Last two numbers
10 000
2 000 THB
Last three numbers
2 000
4 000 THB
First four numbers
2 000
4 000 THB
Second prize
5
200 000 THB
Third prize
10
80 000 THB
Fourth prize
50
40 000 THB
Fifth prize
100
20 000 THB
Special prize
2
100 000 THB
Little tidbit: Lotteries aren’t just about the Benjamins. They even use ’em for army conscription. If they’re short on their yearly enlistment goals, the government runs a sorta lottery where dudes draw one of two tickets. If it’s red, off to boot camp they go. Black, they luck out and dodge the draft.
Beyond lotteries, there aren’t any legit gambling games in Thailand. Technically, even a poker night with your buddies could land you a hefty fine. That said, poker ain’t that big of a deal in Thailand. Still, poker junkies can get their fix online since there aren’t any laws nixing online poker.
So, big-shot poker platforms like Pokerstars, 888Poker, GGpokerok, and PartyPoker are open for business with Thai players. This has pro players from other countries packing their bags for Thailand, chasing the dream with nice weather and low living costs as a bonus.
Reliability and safety of online casinos in Thailand
Alright, folks, as you’ve probably figured out by now, online casinos are a no-go in Thailand. Legit, they don’t have their own licenses for this kind of stuff. So what do the Thai gamers do? They go offshore, diving into casinos registered in places that are cool with gambling.
Some of the big names when it comes to gaming commissions? Malta (rocking that MGA license), Curaçao, Alderney (AGCC), and a few others. So, if your casino’s got the thumbs up from one of these guys, you can bet your bottom dollar it’s on the up-and-up.
Run into some issues with an online casino? Or think they’ve played fast and loose with the rules? You can always shoot an email to the right commission. Give it a few weeks, and if the casino did you dirty, they’ll have to make it right.
Conclusion
To wrap things up, Thailand’s pretty strict when it comes to rolling the dice. The only legit ways to try your luck? Horse racing and state lotteries. Everything else? Gamers have to take it offshore, with online casinos and betting shops. Brick-and-mortar gambling’s a hard pass — play in one of those underground joints, and you could be looking at a hefty fine or even some time in the slammer. So, best to keep it digital. On the plus side, they’ve got some slick payment systems and they’re pretty chill about crypto.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online casinos legal in Thailand?
Formally, the activity of online casinos on the territory of Thailand is illegal. But playing in offshore online casinos is not prohibited, which can be used by Thai players.
What is the situation with sports betting and lotteries in Thailand?
Sports betting, like online casinos, is banned in Thailand. Lotteries are legal and are run under the auspices of the government.
How do I make a deposit at an online casino in Thailand?
To deposit, you can choose either a debit/credit card or a bank transfer. For privacy lovers, e-wallets such as EcoPayz or Neteller, as well as cryptocurrencies are suitable.
Are there any land-based casinos in Thailand?
No, there are no legal land-based casinos in Thailand. But there are in neighboring Cambodia, and some of them are located right on the border.
Are there any special bonuses for Thai players at online casinos?
Yes, players from Thailand have access to a variety of welcome bonuses that multiply your deposit and give free spins, as well as special rating systems and tournaments.
Hi, My name is Kuldeep Negi. I’m Senior Affiliate manager for Digital fuel. We have a few iGaming Brands for Casino and Sport and would like to discuss partnership with you.
23.01.2022 | Date updated: 17 July 2024
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