Thailand Lifts Ban on Poker Tournaments to Bolster Tourism Industry
Thailand is set to host large-scale poker events following the recent legalization of tournament poker. The focus on poker events is part of an effort to attract more tourists and boost the country's tourism industry.
The flagship event, the 2025 WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition, features a Championship Event with a buy-in of 37,000 Thai Baht (approximately USD 1,100) and a total prize pool exceeding 75 million Thai Baht (over $2.3 million) from 2,337 entries [1][2]. This marks the first government-approved live poker series, a significant step in Thailand's push to host international poker tournaments.
Poker tournaments have been prohibited in Thailand for decades, but the recent legalization aims to attract foreign players and tourists as part of a broader strategy to promote Thailand as a destination for competitive poker. This move comes amidst discussions about establishing new casino resorts, although the casino bill has faced delays due to political and public opposition [3][4][5].
While poker events do not typically attract large crowds, numbering in the hundreds, the hope is that allowing international poker events will benefit Thailand's tourism industry. The size of the poker events Thailand is aiming for by lifting the ban is not immediately clear, but the focus is on high-profile, large-scale tournaments involving thousands of players and multi-million dollar prize pools to raise the country's profile in the global poker and tourism markets.
It's worth noting that poker is not commonly found in Thailand, except for illegal underground games. The legalization of tournament poker is a significant change, and it will be interesting to see how the events unfold and the impact they have on Thailand's tourism industry.
References:
[1] PokerNews, "2025 WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition Announced", link
[2] PokerFuse, "2025 WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition Announced", link
[3] Bangkok Post, "Thailand to legalize poker tournaments", link
[4] Reuters, "Thailand delays casino bill amid political, public opposition", link
[5] The Nation, "Thailand casino bill delayed", link
- The 2025 WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition, a part of the growing casino-and-gambling scene, features a poker Championship Event with a significant prize pool, aiming to boost Thailand's international poker and tourism markets.
- As Thailand legalizes poker tournaments, the focus on poker games is not just about attracting poker enthusiasts, but also foreign players and tourists, following the trend of gambling activities worldwide.
- Amidst the discussion of establishing new casino resorts, Thailand's casino bill delayed due to opposition, the large-scale poker events planned, such as the 2025 WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition, are expected to contribute significantly to the country's growing tourism industry.
