The Royal Turf Club is seeking to establish a 200-billion-baht fund to develop an entertainment complex featuring a casino on a large land parcel in Bangkok.
As reported by local media, Pathawee Surin, a director at the club, announced that they, in collaboration with foreign partners, plan to create “The Royal Siam Haven” on a 1,200-rai site. Construction is expected to commence next year and will take around seven years to complete.
The complex will include a horse racing track, a clubhouse, a golf course, a yacht club, a sports complex, a six-star hotel, upscale restaurants, a wellness hospital, a learning center, and a casino.
The club has not disclosed the specific location of the project.
The Pheu Thai-led government is actively working towards legalizing casino gambling, but only within sanctioned entertainment complexes. A draft bill is currently under review, although some coalition parties, particularly the second-ranked Bhumjaithai, have expressed opposition to the proposal in its present form.
The establishment of a new entertainment complex would enable the Royal Turf Club to revitalize its horse racing operations. Established in 1916 by local aristocrats, the club previously managed the Nang Loeng Racecourse in the Dusit district of Bangkok until its closure in 2018. The land, owned by the Crown Property Bureau, was converted into a public park.
Mr. Pathawee mentioned that the Royal Turf Club would partner with the Royal Sport Complex for this project and is in discussions with four additional partners from China, South Korea, and the United States.
Among the potential partners from South Korea is a firm involved in the horse racing industry. The club has already acquired a new racecourse license from the Ministry of Interior, he added.
The Ministry of Finance is anticipated to present a proposal for the entertainment complex and casino bill to the cabinet later this year.
A House committee that explored the policy for entertainment complexes found that the majority of visitors to legal casinos would likely be Thai citizens.
Local media have indicated that several prominent international brands are considering entering the Thai market if gambling is legalized. Potential entrants include Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, MGM China, and Hard Rock Café.
