In Southeast Asia, online casinos operate within a tightly regulated industry. In some nations of the region, they are even prohibited. Despite this, statistics show that player demographics are increasing. In Thailand, the growth is so significant that it has attracted interest from all corners.
Who are these people joining in, what are the factors responsible for the growing interest in gaming and what are the common challenges faced by these people? We will be finding answers to these questions in this article.
What are online casinos like in Thailand?
Online casinos currently exist in a grey area of the law in Thailand. This is because almost all forms of gambling activities are prohibited except government-run lottery programs and horse racing. It’s expected that this should hinder the growth of online gaming players, right? Well, that’s not exactly what is happening.
Statista reports that the numbers are growing despite the restrictions. How are they doing it? Thai gamers are exploring online casino platforms that operate offshore under international licensing. These offshore platforms have penetrated the Thai market by marketing on non-gambling apps and social media platforms and using affiliate links.
Due to a lack of regulatory bodies in Thailand, many fraudulent platforms take advantage of the situation to operate without oversight. This places online casino players at risk of gaming under unfair or manipulated systems where they may not receive their winnings. This is why players are advised to use only platforms that are licensed. Players can find credible online casinos in Thailand on Askgamblers, where they are listed with the regulatory body that provides oversight over their platform.
Why are online casinos in Thailand attracting a wider audience?
A combination of changing lifestyle, greater internet access, and innovative gaming options is bringing a wider and more varied audience to online casinos.
Thai gaming audiences are getting more diverse
Once upon a time, online casino gaming was popular only among the tech-savvy. This is no longer the case. The younger Gen Zs are constantly drawn to the easy excitement loops and playing on the go, an experience that online casinos provide. Even middle-aged professionals are not left out. They may not be as thrill-seeking as the younger folks, but online casinos provide ample opportunity for relaxation and entertainment. There’s also a growing number of female players, which used to be culturally strange in Thailand. Although they may be engaged more with low stakes playing, their numbers are significant.
Smartphone and Internet usage penetration
Several reports indicate that Thailand ranks as one of the Southeast Asian nations with the highest mobile phone connection coverage. According to The Nation, over 59 million people use the internet, which accounts for almost 90% of the country’s population. There’s a strong correlation between internet access within a demographic and the propensity for growth in online casino players. With the wide reach of smartphone and internet coverage, it’s pretty easy for people to play on the go.
The effect of post-pandemic curiosity
Life during the COVID-19 pandemic was unbearable for some, but for the online casino space in Thailand, it was a positive period. By July 2020, about 3,000 people in Thailand had been infected with the virus, which caused the government to tighten social distancing regulations.
Unable to meet with friends for social events, people sought alternative entertainment, including digital entertainment. Interestingly, digital entertainment options were limited. The Olympics were postponed, and even soccer, basketball and other sporting activities had to be suspended. This made online casino gaming a viable option for thrill seekers. Ever since then, online casinos have continued to attract a broad audience.
Seamless e-payment services
Who would enjoy gaming services where transactions take forever to go through? Thai players have the opposite of this experience due to the popularity of e-wallet services in the country. This shouldn’t surprise anyone as the government is driving towards a cashless economy, the population is largely tech-savvy and bank-backed apps are gaining traction. Together, these factors are responsible for Thailand’s over 60% mobile wallet adoption in 2025, with the prepaid and digital market size growing by over 18% compound annual growth rate between 2020 and 2024.
This is an attractive feature for online casino game players as they can enjoy fast transactions without giving out their financial details to gaming platforms.
Interesting game innovations
While national rules might not support online gambling at the moment, the innovation driving the industry keeps attracting more people. Some international gaming platforms targeting the Thai audience have designed games with specific themes to entice players in Thailand. This is not to mention live dealer games that give Thai players the opportunity to experience a real-life casino lounge, seeing that there are few physical casinos in the country.
What does the future look like for online casino gaming in Thailand
In January, there was a draft law proposed to Thailand’s legislative arm to approve gambling activities in the country. Although the bill was later shelved, it is expected that online gaming will soon become legalized in the country. Thai authorities want to build a culture of trust online and protect their citizens but can only do that with legal oversight.
The government may want to imitate neighboring Singapore and the Philippines by creating a licensed and tax-regulated industry that keeps players safe while bringing economic opportunities for the economy.
Will Thailand legalize online casinos? Signs point to possible change
Online casino gaming in Thailand is still a grey area as far as the future is concerned. Currently, online casino gaming is prohibited in Thailand, but the population of gamers is still growing. The reasons for this growth include COVID-influenced curiosity, interesting game innovations, seamless e-payment services and high internet connection penetration. With some institutions pushing for the industry to be legalized and controlled, we could soon witness a reversal in the country’s laws.