Focus on Asia: The Road to Thailand
By Andrew Klebanow, Principal, Klebanow Consulting
February 2, 2021 at
6:00 am
In January, Thailand’s prime minister announced that he was willing to explore the possibility of legalizing casino gambling in the kingdom. Recent outbreaks of Covid-19 in illegal gambling halls prompted him to make the announcement. His statement also acknowledged that Thai citizens already gamble, in both illegal domestic operations and in other countries.
Any number of possible gaming scenarios is compelling to international operators. With a population of nearly 70 million, Thailand is the world’s 20
th most populated nation, and roughly half of its citizens reside in urban regions. The kingdom has a well-educated workforce, and unemployment is low. While there are obvious wealth disparities, the country has a rapidly growing middle class, and a significant affluent class.