Best eSports Casinos in Thailand: Top 10 Casino Websites 2024

The Best Esports Bookmakers in Thailand 2024

Experts estimate that about 20 million Thais gamble illegally. The sheer number of illegal bettors suggests that a substantial number of domestic gamblers are obsessed with betting.

Whether gaming and wagering legally or illegally in Thailand, the online market is growing in popularity. Internet-based websites leverage cutting-edge technology to offer gambling options to the country’s 65 million population.

Tourists and citizens alike often take a chance at evading Thailand’s strict betting laws to enjoy esports gambling online. Let’s look at how esports gambling is evolving in the country, including Thailand’s history of betting, legal regulations, and popular esports games in the country.

Thailand players’ favorite esports games to bet on

The popularity of online sports betting is universal across the globe. In Thailand, unauthorized sportsbooks offer access to betting on a variety of games. From basketball to soccer, sports betting is a major aspect of Thai culture. Legally betting on horse racing is only one aspect of the country’s gambling landscape.

Sports aficionados leverage knowledge about specific players, games, and history to place online bets and win. For a beginner, joining gaming leagues is one way to familiarize himself with sports betting. By using Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Thailand’s local population may bypass government blocks for online casinos and bet on popular games at via popular internet-based sportsbooks.

League of Legends

Pitting two teams against each other, League of Legends is one of the most popular esports games on the market. Teams defend regions of a map, as an individual player controls a character, also called a champion.

Champions purchase items, earn gold, and collect points to win the game by beating the other team. In one mode, if a team is able to destroy the other team’s “Nexus,” the team wins. Champions enjoy special abilities, which help the teams to overcome challenges during the game.

Overwatch

Players choose which of the “heroes” to play. The shooter game Overwatch also involves two teams, including unique characters. Players add characters, navigate the map, and choose between modes to enjoy a competitive environment where teamwork is crucial to winning.

CS:GO

Two opposing teams fight one another in Counter Strike. The counter-terrorists and the terrorists battle it out in a game of wit, where counter-terrorist attempt to prevent the terrorist from planting bombs or succeeding in other nefarious activities, depending on the mode. Nine game modes allow players to choose different characteristics during the game. Custom maps and game modes are also available on the community servers.

Online payment methods in Thailand

Thailand citizens who bet on esports action online may deposit funds using popular digital wallets. Neteller and PayPal are universally accepted by most sportsbooks and bookmakers online. Other options include Entropay, Easypay, and PromptPay. Depositors may easily transfer cash into a sportsbook account.

Cryptocurrency is a popular payment option online and most sportsbooks accept Bitcoin. Even banks allow transfer options.

History of Thai Esports

Gambling in Asian country’s is tied to Ancient China. China shows the earliest evidence of the origins of betting. Ancient tiles unearthed by archaeologists are signs of gambling that date back thousands of years. Many believe the tiles are a form of lottery, like the “drawing of wood” referenced in China’s “Book of Songs.”

In fact, the Keno game played today mirrors an ancient version. A popular addition in modern casinos, the game’s origins date to the Han Dynasty of ancient China. Another game, called Baige piao, is a form of lottery, where players pick characters or numbers. A bettor wins by matching the random picks.

Although Thailand’s government is strict about prohibiting most forms of betting, local governments offer betting opportunities to fund the military and public works projects. As money became crucial to building China and other Asian countries, governments permitted limited forms of gambling to offset budget expenditures.

Experts support the notion that popular games today, like the lottery, evolved out of China. Historians believe similar games of chance supported China’s Great Wall construction.

In fact, lottery games came to Thailand as Chinese immigrants moved through the area. King Rama V is believed to have issued lottery tickets first, and King Rama VI capitalized on the lottery to create a steady stream of income to support the government. Today, lotteries across the globe are important sources of income to offset public works, education, and other government expenses.

For centuries, gambling has been an integral part of Thai culture and society. Citizens enjoyed placing wagers on a number of different types of sporting events, such as boat racing, bullfighting, and cockfighting, a valuable tradition in Thai history. At the 19th century, gambling was crucial to mainstream Thais. The increase in gambling is associated with traders and immigrants from foreign countries.

Gambling evolution in Thailand

At this time, Thailand began to allow legal gambling and build a framework for overseeing gambling operations. Unfortunately, illegal activity was a major part of operations at legal gambling venues. In 1917, the government chose to prohibit gambling operations completely, marking the start of a strict prohibition.

Designed to protect Thais from losing significant sums of money, the prohibition on gambling backfired to some extent. Underground gambling took over the marketplace and Thais continued to gamble without oversight.

By 1930, the country developed its first gambling legislation, which was later revised in 1935. The country’s finance minister worked diligently to legalize gambling. However, the public did not want gambling legislation at the time. Even media outlets criticized the government about its plan to revitalize the gambling sector. In response to public pressure, the country once again prohibited gambling.

Esport betting nowadays in Thailand

Thailand’s government permits betting today in limited circumstances. By holding a government sanctioned lottery and allowing betting on horse races, regulators hope to temper the desire of its citizens to gamble. However, a robust gambling market suggests that these options are not enough for Thais. Many Thais search for gambling opportunities elsewhere, including options to bet online or at underground, unlicensed land-based venues.

Regarding the lottery, participants purchase tickets for twice monthly drawings on the 1st and 16th of the month. To support government programs, 12 percent of the money goes to management and administration and 28 percent is used for public works projects. Horse racing is an integral part of the Thai culture. Although legal, it’s not as popular an option for betting as some of the other betting attractions. Still, both wealthy and low-income citizens frequent the racecourses.

Future of esports betting in Thailand

Illegal bettors are arrested in Thailand regularly. The government cracks down swiftly on those who dare to break gambling laws. Even though gambling online is also risky, esports bettors are finding ways to enjoy wagering on favorite esports teams in tournaments.

However, illegal betting continues growing in the country, including betting related to esports. As esports continues to grow, unlicensed betting options will also become more prevalent and government intervention is unlikely to prevent the wave of illegal betting options for Thai citizens.

With more mobile phones, tablets, and computers than ever, Thailand citizens may easily access sportsbooks to bet on esports. In fact, Thais may access sites across the globe to bet illegally if a gambler is able to avoid the government’s block on all unlicensed websites.

Yes, Thailand government regulators actually block unlicensed gambling sites; tracking IP addresses that attempt to access these prohibited betting platforms. Experts estimate that at least 70 percent of Thais gamble illegally in some form.

However, as the esports landscape continues to evolve in Thailand, players and fans are sure to find opportunities to gamble. In fact, Asian sportsbooks offer online gambling. Even though the country prohibits unlicensed betting, many international licensed sportsbooks are including esports betting as an option. Casual gamblers may attempt to bet on these internationally licensed sites, which are out of Thailand’s jurisdiction.

Are video game sportsbooks legal in Thailand?

Currently, horse racing and the lottery are legal forms of betting in Thailand. Religion is an important factor in the country’s society. In fact, most citizens practice Buddhism, which is Thailand’s most popular religion. According to the religion’s principles, gambling is not acceptable.

This is the main reason the government is strict on prohibiting most forms of betting. However, Thais continue to bet underground, online, and in secret. The prohibition is fueling a lucrative illegal gambling market and sending a significant amount of money to licensed, international websites.

Betting Acts in Thailand

The 1935 Gambling Act prohibits gambling, except for horse racing and the government-run lottery. Regulators enforce the gambling laws, holding both operators and individual bettors accountable for breaking its statutes.

By 2020, Thailand refused to acknowledge or accept online gambling and continued to block casinos, websites, and sportsbooks from offering online betting options to Thai citizens. In fact, Thailand restricts gambling to the point that citizens may not own more than 120 playing cards. Owning more than two card decks is unacceptable.

Anyone within the country’s borders who participates in illegal gambling is at risk of facing extensive fines or arrest. Not even tourists are safe from sanctions. For these reasons, law abiding citizens stick to betting on horses and playing the lottery. Illegal casino owners are regularly targeted by regulators. Violators risk jail, even for playing traditional games like slots.

Esports is still new to Thailand. It remains to be seen if the evolution of the sport encourages regulators to offer betting opportunities related to popular tournament games. For now, bettors may avoid government blocks with Virtual Private Networks or visit licensed sportsbooks outside of the country’s jurisdiction. Still, the gambling regulations are clear.

It is risky to attempt to bet from within Thailand’s borders at unlicensed land-based or online websites, which are not recognized by the Thai government as legal.

Fines

For example, simple wagering like Bingo and raffles are prohibited. Fortunately, those who bet in these games are less severely fined, approximately $33, and jail time is unlikely.

Yet, regulators crack down severely on operators. If a person is caught at an unlicensed facility during a raid playing a raffle or Bingo, he may find himself in serious trouble. For this reason, online gambling is becoming the choice for Thais who seek to wager in secret.

The Act does not cover online gambling specifically, but its wording is broad. So, gambling online is also considered illegal. However, gamblers are more likely to get fined for betting at a land-based facility than an online esports website.

It's important to remember that Thailand’s betting enforcement evolves, depending on several factors, such as who is in charge. Regulators who focus on land-based enforcement may seek to restrict online betting as it continues to grow in popularity. After all, unlicensed websites are not regulated.

The purpose of the Act is to protect Thai citizens. Bettors depositing funds at unlicensed operations risk losing money from disreputable owners.

Sports betting among Thais continues to grow. As esports becomes more popular in the region bets on tournaments, players, and matches are sure to become integral to the region’s gambling landscape. As regulators force unlicensed land-based casinos to shut down, officials are relying heavily on ISP and website blocking to monitor online betting activities. Thai citizens who enjoy sports and esports see online betting as a loophole.

FAQ

Are online gamblers in Thailand arrested?

Thailand will arrest gamblers who violate the Gambling Act. However, most enforcement in the country centers around land-based casinos. Regulators block IP addresses for unlicensed gambling websites.

However, the Gambling Act’s broad language may include online betting, even though the Act was written before online gambling existed. Thai citizens and tourists should stick to forms of betting licensed and regulated by Thailand’s government while within the country’s borders.

Top-rated eSports gambling sites in Thailand