Crypto Casino
Torrent Gear
Gambling and online casinos in Laos
Laos is a small socialist state in Southeast Asia, where gambling has a special place in the economy and tourism.
Although gambling is officially banned for citizens, authorities allow casinos and gaming resorts for foreigners, making Laos one of the region's hidden gambling centers.
Casinos on the border with Thailand and China are especially actively developing, where the flow of players is growing steadily.
Legislative framework
Gambling is regulated by law:- The Decree on the Management of the Casino Business (2010) - establishes the licensing procedure for casinos and a ban on the participation of Lao citizens;
- The Penal Law of Lao PDR (2018) - confirms that it is an offence to engage in gambling without a licence;
- The Law on Tax Management (2021) - regulates the taxation of licensed operators.
- casinos are only allowed for foreigners;
- citizens of Laos are forbidden to play;
- licenses are issued by the Ministry of Finance;
- online gambling is not officially regulated, but does not have a separate ban;
- the gambling tax is 25% of gross profit (GGR).
Gambling zones and casinos
Laos is actively developing tourist gambling zones, attracting investors from China, Vietnam and Thailand.
The most famous casinos are located in border regions where foreigners come for gambling prohibited in their countries.
The main centers of gambling tourism:- Boten Special Economic Zone (north, China border)
- operated by the Chinese company Hong Kong Jimei Group;
- includes hotels, casinos, business centers and residential complexes;
most visitors are Chinese citizens.
Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone (south, Thai border)
popular with Thai tourists;- a large casino, the Savan Vegas Hotel & Entertainment Complex, operates;
the complex brings the budget more than $20 million in taxes per year.
Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone
an internationally famous area with Kings Romans Casino;
associated with Chinese capital and used as a regional center for offshore iGaming operations.
Online gambling
Online gambling in Laos is outside the legal field.
The law does not provide for separate regulation of Internet casinos, which creates a "gray zone" in which both local and foreign operators operate.
Real situation:- Lao citizens actively use international sites (1xBet, Fun88, W88, Stake, Parimatch);
- the Golden Triangle zone hosts online gambling hubs serving China, Thailand and Vietnam;
- deposits often pass through cryptocurrencies and WeChat Pay/Alipay;
- Laos does not have a site blocking system, and access to offshore casinos is free.
Since 2023, the government has been discussing the creation of a national license for online gambling in order to legitimize the activities of offshore operators and receive tax revenues.
The economic role of the gambling sector
Gambling is one of the few sources of foreign currency for Laos.
Thanks to gambling zones, the country receives:- investment in infrastructure and tourism;
- foreign exchange earnings from Chinese and Thai tourists;
- new jobs for locals.
- total casino revenue exceeded $150 million;
- tax revenues amounted to about $35 million;
- the sector provides more than 10,000 jobs.
Still, most projects are funded by Chinese companies, and a significant portion of profits go overseas.
Social and cultural aspect
Buddhism is the main religion of Laos, and traditionally it does not approve of gambling, considering it a manifestation of greed and passion.
Therefore, for the citizens of Laos, playing in a casino is considered an immoral act, and the authorities strictly observe the ban on the participation of local residents.
However, the government takes a pragmatic stance:This makes the Lao model similar to Nepal and Cambodia - casinos are open, but "only for tourists."
Challenges and challenges
Laos' gambling industry faces a number of challenges:- dependence on Chinese capital and tourists;
- the risk of becoming the center of shadow iGaming;
- cases of money laundering and illegal crypto transactions;
- exploitation of workers in online centers in the Golden Triangle zone.
In 2023, the UN and Interpol published a report that referred to Laos as one of the "regional hubs of online gambling and cyber fraud."
Taxation and licensing
Control and supervision
Responsible authorities:- Ministry of Finance (MOF) - licensing and taxation of casinos;
- Lao National Economic Zone Authority (LNEZA) - control in special zones;
- Ministry of Information and Culture - prohibition of gambling advertising among citizens;
- Central Bank of Laos - control over foreign exchange transactions and crypto payments.
Formally, online gambling is subject to a ban, but in reality, the authorities turn a blind eye to the activities of offshore platforms, especially if they bring currency.
Development prospects
In recent years, Laos has been making moves towards regulating online gambling and integrated casino resorts (IR).
Key areas:1. Creation of a licensing system for online operators aimed at foreign markets.
2. Attracting investment in gambling zones (Boten, Savan, Kings Romans).
3. Development of Responsible Gaming and anti-money laundering rules.
4. Control of cryptocurrency transactions and gambling servers.
If these reforms are implemented, Laos could become the new competitor of Cambodia and the Philippines in the Asian gambling market.
Laos is a pragmatic model of "permitted excitement for foreigners," where casinos bring income to the treasury, but remain inaccessible to citizens.
Online gambling is not yet regulated, but is actively growing, turning the country into a "gray zone" between China and Thailand.
If the country legalizes online gambling, it could become Southeast Asia's new quiet iGaming hub.
