This document covers the historical and political factors that continue to shape Tourism and Gambling in Thailand. We discuss the relationship between the Kings of Thailand, the royal family, and its wars, military and police, governments, constitutions, coups, and the elections that set the stage for today’s tourist industry in Thailand.

We look at today’s Thailand, its people, the growth of Thailand’s tourist industry and its value to the country. We look at the effect of COVID-19 on the hockey stick growth of Thailand’s tourism, making up 20% of the country’s GDP in 2019. We provide a decade-by-decade timeline of the highlights of Thailand’s history of tourism and gambling.

Lastly, we cover the role of gambling in Thai society and culture and provide our thoughts on the current situation, challenges, and opportunities to expand legal gambling in Thailand.