Thailand's Interim Prime Minister Lifts 65-Year-Old Ban on Poker Tournaments, Aims to Draw International Gaming Events
In a surprising move, the Thai government, under the leadership of Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechachai, has decided to lift the ban on tournament poker in the country. This ban, which has been in place since 1958, is a significant step towards recognizing poker as a legitimate sport and boosting tourism.
The decision to lift the ban was announced recently, and it has already had its first major impact. The WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition 2025, held in Bangkok from August 1โ5, 2025, marked the countryโs first world-class poker festival. With 2,337 entries and a total prize pool of about 75 million THB (~USD 2.3 million), the event was a resounding success [1][2][3].
Despite the traditional legal ban on gambling in Thailand, these poker tournaments are currently active and even expanding. Notably, they are not taking place in traditional casino resorts, as these remain illegal in the country. Instead, events like the WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition are held in specialized venues such as UOB LIVE at EmSphere Mall.
The public and government backlash against gambling culture in Thailand has historically been strong. No legal casino resorts currently operate openly in the country. The recent poker events are primarily exhibition or special events rather than indicators of open casino resort operations.
Phumtham Wechachai has stated that competitions will be approved on a case-by-case basis. However, the ban on cash games remains in effect, meaning that only tournament play is legal. The primary goal of lifting the ban is to attract international poker events to Thailand and help boost tourism.
Lawmakers are considering expanding gambling with destination casino resorts, but this effort has been halted due to significant public opposition and the PMโs suspension. For now, poker tournaments are the only form of gambling allowed in Thailand, and they are gaining recognition as sports events.
In summary, poker tournaments, such as the 2025 WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition, are actively held and gaining recognition as sports events in Thailand. These events take place in specialized venues, not casino resorts, due to Thailandโs continued restrictions on gambling and casino establishments. Despite public opposition and legal restrictions, the Thai government is allowing some form of poker activity to proceed while maintaining the ban on traditional destination casino resorts.
References:
[1] WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition 2025. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.worldpokertour.com/events/wpt-prime-thailand-2025
[2] The Nation. (2025). WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition 2025 Draws 2,337 Players. Retrieved from https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30414660
[3] Bangkok Post. (2025). WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition 2025 Awards 75 Million THB in Prizes. Retrieved from https://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/leisure/1971403/wpt-prime-thailand-exhibition-2025-awards-75-million-thb-in-prizes
[4] The Nation. (2025). Poker Recognized as a Sport in Thailand. Retrieved from https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30414659
The Thai government, in its decision to lift the ban on poker tournaments, has opened up the country to world-class poker festivals, such as the WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition 2025, marking a significant shift towards recognizing poker as a legitimate sport and a boost for tourism. In contrast to traditional casino-and-gambling establishments, which remain illegal in Thailand, these poker events are held in specialized venues like UOB LIVE at EmSphere Mall.
Despite the ongoing restrictions on casino resorts and cash games, the Thai government is showing a growing interest in sports, including poker, as a means to attract international events and foster tourism growth.
