A new tourist attraction might soon emerge in Ban Dan Nok, a town near the Thailand-Malaysia border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah: a legal casino!

This development follows calls from Thai tourism operators in Songkhla urging the government to build an entertainment complex to revitalize tourism in border areas and reduce reliance on Malaysian visitors.

According to the Bangkok Post, the Thai government is considering an integrated entertainment complex project.

Songchai Mungprasithichai, president of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, highlighted that Ban Dan Nok and the area around the Sadao checkpoint near Bukit Kayu Hitam could attract tourists interested in gambling. The Sadao checkpoint is a major entry point in southern Thailand.

The proposed casino could compete with Genting Highlands, a popular tourist destination

Songchai noted that demand for casino tourism would be high, citing Genting Highlands as an example of how legal casinos and resorts can draw large numbers of tourists. He emphasized that the Thai government should implement clear regulations to screen local gamblers, such as setting a minimum income requirement.

He also encouraged the government to involve local communities in deciding on the casino complex, considering both the positive and negative impacts of legalized gambling. Songchai pointed out that Malaysia allows legal casinos in Genting Highlands despite its predominantly Muslim population.