The Thai government has published its draft rules for the operation of integrated resorts, with the right of public comment available until August 18th.
Following the March approval of the draft Entertainment Complex Bill, these initial rules include 30-year licences, with evaluation every five years, and each renewal period running for a maximum of 10 years.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will Chair a Policy and Executive Committee that will be responsible for the development of regulation, with ongoing regulation the responsibility of a new body, the Comprehensive Entertainment Commission.
The initial Committee will include the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Minister of Tourism & Sports, the Minister of Social Development & Human Security, the Minister of Commerce, the Minister of Interior, the Minister of Justice and the Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police.
The current draft regulations do not yet include proposed taxation levels, but operators will pay an initial licence fee of five billion Thai Baht (US$142m), plus 100,000 Baht (US$2,800) application fee. Annual fees will cost one billion Baht (US$28.4m), and operators renewing licences, will again be required to pay the five billion Baht. All renewed licences will also be subject to the annual fee of one billion Baht.
In addition, Thai nationals will be required to pay an entry fee of 5,000 Baht (US$140) each time they enter an integrate resort casino.
Finally, all casinos are required to be located in a locality designated by Royal Decree and must form part of a wider integrated resort that includes a minimum of four entertainment businesses. These may be a Thai cultural centre, a hotel, restaurant, amusement park or retail department store.
