Thailand Ends Poker Legalisation in Sudden Policy Reversal

Thailand’s short-lived experiment with poker legalisation has come to a definitive end. Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has revoked the July 2025 order that recognised poker as a legal “game of skill,” reinstating the country’s long-standing prohibition on all gambling-related card games. The decision, formalised through Interior Ministry Order No. 3179/2568, underscores the government’s firm zero-tolerance approach to gambling.

The reversal comes just months after the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) had officially recognised poker as a sport, a move initially celebrated as a milestone for Thailand’s entertainment and tourism industries. The SAT had argued that poker required strategic planning and mental skill rather than luck. However, subsequent media reports linked the legalisation to lobbying efforts surrounding the World Poker Tour (WPT) Prime Thailand event held in Bangkok in July.

Opposition lawmakers accused the previous administration of acting under external pressure and questioned the timing of the ministerial order. In response, Prime Minister Anutin declared that his government would not support any activity associated with gambling, even if presented as sport.

The reinstatement of the ban effectively ends Thailand’s ambitions to develop a regulated poker ecosystem and host major tournaments. It also sends a clear message about the administration’s broader regulatory philosophy prioritising social protection and public trust over gaming liberalisation.

With this decision, Thailand reasserts its strict anti-gambling stance, positioning itself as one of the region’s most conservative markets in gaming regulation.