The majority of Thai citizens do not support the development of entertainment complexes featuring casinos or the legalisation of online gambling, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). The survey results were released on January 26, 2025.
The poll, conducted on January 20–21, interviewed 1,310 respondents aged 18 and above from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. With a reported reliability of 97%, the survey provides insights into public sentiment on gambling and related developments.
Regarding the proposed entertainment complex project, 59.16% of respondents opposed the idea, while 28.93% supported it. A further 8.63% approved of an entertainment complex without a casino, and only 1.60% were in favor of a casino alone. Meanwhile, 1.68% expressed no opinion.
When asked about the legalisation of online gambling, 58.12% were against it, while 19.92% expressed support. Another 11.45% somewhat agreed, and 10.31% somewhat disagreed.
Combining both issues, 51.07% opposed the dual initiative of an entertainment complex with a casino and the legalisation of online gambling, while 37.96% were supportive.
Interestingly, 5.11% of respondents supported holding a referendum on both the entertainment complex and online gambling, while 3.89% favored a referendum focused solely on online gambling.
The poll underscores a strong public reluctance to embrace gambling-related projects, reflecting concerns that could influence policy discussions in Thailand.
