On January 13, 2025, Thailand’s cabinet approved in principle the draft Entertainment Complex Act, as proposed by the Ministry of Finance. This landmark legislative proposal, which would allow casinos as part of larger “entertainment complexes,” will now proceed through further parliamentary review and approval. Key provisions of the draft act are described below. Corporate structure: Entertainment complexes must be operated by Thai-registered limited companies or public limited companies with a minimum paid-up capital of THB 10 billion. Directors of the licensed entity must be individuals and have the qualifications and none of the prohibited characteristics specified in the draft act. The draft act does not impose restrictions on foreign-majority ownership structures; however, it is worth monitoring whether any amendments addressing this matter are introduced during the legislative process. Operating conditions: Each entertainment complex must be located in an area designated under a royal decree. It must also include at least four types of entertainment businesses listed in the annex to the draft act (e.g., shopping mall, hotel, sports stadium, amusement park), along with a casino. The allocation of casino space must comply with regulations to be specified at a later date. Licensing conditions: Licenses will be valid for 30 years, renewable in increments of up to 10 years. The license issuance fee is THB 5 billion, the annual fee is THB 1 billion, and the renewal fee is THB 5 billion. The Entertainment Complex Policy Committee, chaired by the prime minister, will review and approve applications. Online gambling restrictions: Licensees are prohibited from offering gambling through internet-connected systems or electronic devices that allow access from outside the casino premises. Labor requirements: Thai and foreign employee ratios must adhere to prescribed regulations. Land privileges: Lease agreements for land use are limited to 50 years. Renewal is permitted for up to

Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has issued regulations revising its criteria for certain foreign companies that receive promotional privileges to own land under limited circumstances. The revised allowance is detailed in the Notification of the Board of Investment No. 16/2567 Re: Criteria for Permitting Foreign Juristic Persons Receiving Investment Promotion to Hold Land Ownership for Office and Residence, which was published in the Government Gazette on December 9, 2024, after having been officially issued on November 1, 2024. The notification was made in conjunction with the subordinate Notification of the Office of the Board of Investment No. Por. 8/2567 Re: Criteria and Conditions for Permitting Foreign Juristic Persons Receiving Investment Promotion to Own Land for Office and Residence for Operational-Level Workers to Operate Business Granted Investment Promotion, dated November 4, 2024. Under the new BOI notification and subordinate notification, foreign juristic persons that receive promotional privileges from the BOI, with paid-up registered capital of at least THB 50 million, are eligible to own land for office use or residential purposes, subject to certain criteria and conditions: Office use. Land used for this purpose must be for an office of the relevant BOI-promoted business, with an area limit of 5 rai (8,000 square meters). Residential use. Land used for this purpose must be for the residences of operational-level workers (i.e., unskilled laborers), with an area limit of 20 rai (32,000 square meters). In addition, there must be common facilities (e.g., parking, first-aid room, kitchen, and other amenities, as approved by the BOI). The land must be located within 10 kilometers of the place of business operation, and the number of rooms must be consistent with the number of workers. For more information on this notification, or on any aspect of property law in Thailand, please contact Chaiwat Keratisuthisathorn at  [email protected],

The Contract Committee of Thailand’s Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) has issued the Notification Prescribing the Business of Selling Condominium Units Through Reservations as a Contract-Controlled Business B.E. 2567 (2024). The notification was published in the Government Gazette on October 3, 2024, and is expected to come into effect 120 days after the publication date (i.e., January 31, 2025). This notification aims to prevent condominium project business operators/developers from exploiting consumers. Under the notification, the business of selling condominium units through reservations refers to a business in which a consumer enters into a reservation contract with a business operator to reserve a condominium unit in a condominium building, by paying a reservation fee (or other benefit similar to a reservation fee) that is not a security deposit or down payment, and committing the consumer to enter into a subsequent sales contract to buy the unit. This also extends to the sale of condominium units reserved through electronic channels. The reservation contract must be written in Thai and must include material terms and conditions as specified in the prescribed reservation contract form attached to the Notification (“Standard Reservation Contract”). In addition, the reservation contract must not contain any of the following terms and conditions: Exemption or limitation of the business operator’s liability arising from its breach of contract. The business operator’s right to change the contract or various conditions imposing an additional burden on the consumer, exceeding what was agreed upon at the time the contract was made. The business operator’s right to terminate the contract with the consumer without written notice, or without the material breach of contract by the consumer. The business operator’s right to confiscate all or part of the payment unless the consumer is in breach of the contract. The business operator’s right to