The head of intellectual Property, Sports and Gaming at Rajah & Tann Singapore, spoke with Focus Gaming News about Thailand’s potential legalisation of gaming and its impact on the Asian market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Exclusive interview.- The potential legalisation of casinos in Thailand<\/a> could transform the Asian gaming landscape. To gain deeper insights, Focus Gaming News spoke to Lau Kok Keng, head of intellectual Property, Sports and Gaming at Rajah & Tann Singapore, who was part of a panel discussion titled \u201cWhat\u2019s Happening in Asia Pacific Part: Regulatory Updates and Understanding Growing Cross-Border Player Acquisition Risk” at the recent G2E Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There has been much discussion about the possible legalisation of gaming in Thailand. How do you think this will change the dynamics of the gaming industry in the Asian market? What benefits and challenges will it bring?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thailand has already long been a major draw for tourists, and the legalisation of casinos, integrated into entertainment complexes, could significantly transform the tourism landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The development of integrated resorts in Thailand is expected to attract significant investments and facilitate the construction of major infrastructure projects<\/strong>, rejuvenating various areas across the country and creating thousands of additional job opportunities for its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With Thailand already boasting numerous tourist attractions that cater to different vacation lifestyles, the introduction of entertainment complexes featuring casinos could further enhance the country\u2019s appeal as a premier tourist destination. This is likely to draw many tourists away from other Southeast Asian countries with casinos to Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A significant challenge lies in the regulatory framework, which is expected to be less than robust. This could deter the top international casinos from bidding for a casino licence and investing in building infrastructure in Thailand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without the top international casino operators being part of the casino landscape, Thailand\u2019s foray into legalised casino gambling is likely to be less successful. The unstable political environment in Thailand is also another potential challenge<\/strong>, with the country experiencing 22 coups in 92 years or an average of 1 in 4 years. Any investor will certainly have to factor in the political risk in its decision to commit to a major investment in Thailand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “The introduction of entertainment complexes featuring casinos could further enhance the country\u2019s appeal as a premier tourist destination.”<\/p>\nLau Kok Keng, head of intellectual Property, Sports and Gaming at Rajah & Tann Singapore.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n At G2E Asia, you mentioned that it is likely Thailand will build its first integrated casino by 2029, ahead of the opening of Japan’s Osaka complex. What do you believe are the key factors for this to happen?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I said that the Thais are really keen and serious about wanting to beat Japan to the opening of the first integrated resort in each country. I believe that whether or not they can actually achieve this is down to political will. This will determine how expeditious the rollout of legislation, supporting regulations, and the implementation of the bidding process will be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although there have been positive movements in the right direction, significant work on the legal front is still needed<\/strong>, especially considering the state of the initial draft of the Entertainment Complex Bill. It is wholly inadequate, compared to the legislation that Singapore has. Then there is the construction work to deal with. Huge construction projects tend to encounter delays, so for Thailand to have its first casino ready by the end of 2029, everything must work out perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Huge construction projects tend to encounter delays, so for Thailand to have its first casino ready by the end of 2029, everything must work out perfectly.”<\/p>\nLau Kok Keng, head of intellectual Property, Sports and Gaming at Rajah & Tann Singapore.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n In line with the previous question, do you think Japan is taking a “very conservative” approach and falling behind other countries in terms of gaming regulation?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Japan has been talking about legalising casinos for decades, and the slow walk it is taking to establishing integrated resorts is partly due to the complexity of its legal structure<\/strong>, with different agencies having ownership of different processes – the local government selecting operator candidates, the Tourism Ministry evaluating bids from interested operators, and the casino regulator determining who to award the casino licence to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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