Thailand has quite strict gambling laws but still it remains extensively popular throughout the country both offline and online, although technically illegal in most cases.
Thai players are well known for using overseas gambling sites to play online and many of the biggest operators (bet365, Betvictor, Paddy Power etc.) are all happy to accept players from the region.
Players themselves have been known to face small fines if caught gambling on the internet.
Check out the legal situation below, starting with the key info you need to know regarding the law, and find out which betting sites accept Thai players online.
Key Facts: Online Gambling In Thailand
- Most forms of gambling illegal.
- National lottery and thoroughbred racetracks in Bangkok legal.
- Thousands of illegal gambling houses exist throughout country.
- Thai players frequently use overseas betting sites.
- Punishment comes in the form of a small fine if caught.
Best Thai Betting Sites
The following is a list of the best betting sites for residents of Thailand:
NOTE: 188Bet has the best deposit success rate for Thailand!
Gambling Laws and Legislation Timeline
In spite of being very strict, Thailand’s gambling law is at least easy to understand. It can be ably summed up by the following timeline covering the passage of the country’s main pieces of legislation:
1935 – Gambling Act of B.E. 2478
Thailand’s Gambling Act of B.E. 2478 passed in 1935 is the main piece of legislation related to gambling within the country. The legislation prohibits all forms of gambling in Thailand and splits the different forms into List A or List B classifications.
List A activities include betting on blood sports and some casino games, and taking part in these activities carries the highest criminal penalties. List B activities are essentially everything else and have slightly less harsh penalties attached to them. The only activities exempt from this act are the national lottery and horse racing betting at thoroughbred racetracks in Bangkok.
1943 – Playing Cards Act of B.E. 2486
Passed in 1943, the Playing Cards Act of B.E. 2486 makes owning, manufacturing and selling playing cards illegal in Thailand. This is to help with the enforcement of the law banning gambling based card games like poker or blackjack.
1999 – Anti-Money Laundering Act of B.E. 2542
Aimed at the criminal offence of money laundering, the Anti-Money Laundering Act of B.E. 2542 also strengthens Thailand’s anti-gambling law in some specific circumstances.
Do Players Get Taxed On Winnings?
The above, therefore, gives a good account of the legal situation regarding gambling in Thailand. What’s left to discuss, then, is the attitude of the Thai authorities toward the taxation of gambling winnings.
The circumstances in that regard are that there is no framework through which the Thai government can levy taxes on gambling winnings, as for the most part gambling winnings cannot be earned legally. Fines, however, can be imposed upon punters found breaking the law by gambling and in extreme circumstances even prison sentences are possible.
Online Deposit Options & Methods
Betting or gambling online is illegal for Thai citizens in the same way that physically taking part in the activities within the country’s borders is also prohibited. There are, therefore, no legal and regulated domestic Thai websites with which punters can deposit money. Many overseas gambling providers, however, do still cater for Thai customers and many Thai citizens do take this avenue when it comes to online gambling.
This is still illegal but the Thai government have little jurisdiction over the foreign providers themselves. Betting sites which accept Thai players usually have a bank account in Thailand which players can deposit into, using a variety of methods, and then use to place bets online.