#Thailand is mostly known for its exciting nightlife – an experience that isn’t quite complete without its booming #gaming industry.
While most of Thailand’s betting culture is comprised of the national lottery, this doesn’t mean that the country has no interest in gaming.
The opposite is actually true, as Thailand, over the years, has been fostering a strong gambling culture, one that is growing by the day.
The rapid growth of this industry has a lot to do with the technological advances afforded to the world, literally changing how we do things in our everyday lives.
So, let’s take a look at the state of Thailand’s gambling culture, the imminent rise of online gaming, and what the future holds for this promising industry.
Thai Gambling Culture
Thailand’s strong gambling culture isn’t that surprising if you consider the country’s love affair with gaming in general.
Thailand is home to over 28 million active players, and it is these players’ love for the thrill and excitement of competitive activities that drives the industries.
The prominence of Thai gambling culture is made even more impressive by the fact that the nearest brick and mortar casinos are found 250 kilometres away from Bangkok, in a town called Poipet.
Poipet resides on the Cambodian-Thai border and is home to Thailand’s favourite casinos.
In fact, so many citizens from Thailand are willing to make the three-hour trip that they account for 95% of Poipet casinos’ customers.
Rise of Online Gaming
This attraction to Poipet’s casinos is evident in the parallel growth of online gaming in the country, as well.
Indeed, mobile and online gaming have been on the rise for years. This is likely because online gaming has given the citizens of Thailand a more accessible way to play.
Online gaming companies also give players a variety of games to choose from, such as slots and online sports betting.
What’s more, both locals and tourists can try playing slots for free online before betting any real money.
This makes the method a great entry point for people who want to start playing for real.
Thailand Business News explains that the success of online gambling can also be attributed to how the industry allows Thai citizens to play from any location.
This feature is coupled with the country’s bustling sports industry, which bolsters the popular online betting scene.
With football on the rise all over the country, there has been a surge in online sports betting.
All of these factors have resulted in 70% of the adult population participating in the online gambling industry, resulting in a revenue of ฿184 billion annually.
Future of the Online Gaming Industry
Considering Thailand’s national lottery was established in 2003, the country is ripe for more growth and innovation when it comes to the gaming industry.
The potential revenue of the online gambling industry is rising at an unprecedented rate, so much so that Thailand will likely end up expanding its gaming options beyond the national lottery.
Seeing as most online gambling in Thailand is done offshore, there is a huge potential for the industry’s growth in the country via the creation of their own local online platforms.
