Fastest-Growing Land-Based Casinos And Top Asian Countries to Watch

As the Asian continent continues to witness a renaissance in the casino and gambling industry, countries across the region are rewriting the rules of gaming tourism to attract global visitors, enacting new laws, and greenlighting high-stakes resort projects. Governments from Bangkok to Tokyo are rolling out the welcome mat (and lavish casinos) for international gamblers.

Thailand’s cabinet, for example, recently approved an Entertainment Complex Bill that would legalize casino resorts, a move backed by 80% of surveyed Thais and projected to generate billions in new investment and tax revenue. Likewise, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has moved to secure approval from the prime minister for a US$2 billion Van Don integrated resort on the northeastern coast.

These developments underscore a broader shift toward land-based gaming hubs in Asia’s tourism strategy, and Southeast Asia’s emerging casino markets are no longer an afterthought; they are poised to become headline destinations for gamblers and resort vacationers alike.

Thailand

Thailand has long banned casino gambling, but that seems to be changing. In early 2025, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s government advanced an “entertainment complex” bill through the cabinet, paving the way for luxury integrated resorts with legal casinos.

The proposal imposes strict entry fees (around ฿5,000 or ~US$140) and deposits for Thai visitors, intending to manage social impact. Proponents argue it will turbocharge tourism; one study cited in the bill’s analysis predicts the new resorts could inject about ฿39.4 billion (US$1.16 billion) a year into public coffers. These resorts are expected to be built in existing tourist hubs like Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, or Bangkok, creating tens of thousands of jobs and upgrading infrastructure.

Despite political wrangling, the message is clear: Thailand is preparing to enter the land-based casino arena. For casino lovers, this means new exotic destinations; imagine sun-soaked weekends in Bangkok or Chiang Mai crowned by an evening of slot machines and shows at a riverside casino resort.

The atmosphere surrounding Thailand’s debate has been electric, reflecting the promise of transforming the Kingdom into a new gambling getaway.

Vietnam

Vietnam’s casino scene is heating up. The government is reviving plans for a massive Van Don integrated resort on the Gulf of Tonkin, located in Quang Ninh province. A June 2025 report revealed that the finance ministry is seeking final approval for a VND 51.5 trillion (≈US$2 billion) luxury casino development in Van Don.

If approved, the Van Don project will cover approximately 244 hectares, 182 hectares for construction, and 62 hectares preserved as natural forest. It will be built in phases over roughly nine years, with a planned opening around 2032. This resort is envisioned as Vietnam’s boldest move yet: it would participate in a pilot program to allow Vietnamese citizens to gamble under strict oversight (following in the footsteps of Phu Quoc’s Corona Casino program), injecting fresh life into local tourism.

At the same time, private developers are racing to expand existing resorts. The Grand Ho Tram Casino (in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province) has just broken ground on a $1 billion expansion. Backed by investors like Warburg Pincus and VinaCapital, Grand Ho Tram is adding thousands of hotel rooms, entertainment venues, and a new casino wing. Its CEO, Walt Power, has stated that the resort will strive not only to be Vietnam’s premier casino destination but also a competitor to the region’s best.

Currently, Grand Ho Tram’s casino is only open to foreigners (efforts to allow Vietnamese gamblers are underway), but the expansion will focus on high-end events, conventions, and luxury stays aimed at visitors from Saigon, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and beyond. With Vietnam targeting tourism to account for 17% of GDP by 2030, the growth of Grand Ho Tram aligns perfectly with national goals. By mid-decade, tourists may be enjoying a five-star retreat on Vietnam’s southern coast that combines beachside leisure with premium casino thrills, a combination that earlier industry models (like Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa) have shown to be very popular.

Japan

Japan is finally joining the casino club with its own integrated resorts. In April 2025, the groundbreaking was held for Japan’s first legal casino, a sprawling resort on Osaka’s man-made Yumeshima Island. Developed by MGM Resorts International in partnership with Japan’s ORIX Corp, the MGM Osaka project is set to open around 2030 with a price tag of roughly US$8.8 billion.

Spread over nearly 50 hectares adjacent to the Expo 2025 site, the resort will feature three luxury hotels (2,500 rooms total), extensive conference and exhibition facilities, restaurants, theaters, and the country’s first casino floor. Analysts estimate it could generate around $5.9 billion per year in gaming revenue. For travelers, this means that post-Expo Osaka will light up with new neon.

One can envision staying at a high-end hotel overlooking Osaka Bay, then enjoying panoramic casino floors, fine dining, and shows all under one roof. Local officials expect around 6 million foreign tourists and 14 million domestic visitors annually, thanks to the resort, making it a cornerstone of Kansai’s future economy. In short, Japan’s long-anticipated casino era is finally dawning.

The Osaka IR is not just a gamble by MGM; it is a bet on Japan’s tourism future, linking the legacy of Expo 2025 with a permanent entertainment draw. Casino enthusiasts should mark their calendars: In just a few years, Japan will offer its own blend of neon glitz and pachinko-free gaming, all under stringent new regulations for a nation of hardcore gamers and foreign tourists alike.

Philippines

The Philippines already boasts several major casino resorts in Manila and Clark, and it is also expanding. The state gaming regulator reports that six new casino facilities, totaling about US$3 billion, are on the way. Operators plan to open at least one new integrated resort approximately every two years, spreading beyond Metro Manila into Clark (Pampanga), Cebu, and other regions. Local conglomerates are getting involved: for instance, SM Investments (through its Belle Corp affiliate) has applied for a license for a $300 million casino-resort north of Manila in Clark.

The aim behind these moves is to turbocharge gaming revenue. Philippines gaming chief Alejandro Tengco has predicted that with a steady annual growth of 10%, gross gambling revenue could reach 450500 billion pesos (roughly $89 billion) by 2028. Already, 2023 has been a record year, with GGR of ₱285 billion, supported by foreign tourists and stricter junket rules that have reduced illegal play. In practice, this means travelers might soon find even more luxurious casinos when visiting the Philippines.

Imagine combining a beach getaway in Boracay or Cebu with a state-of-the-art casino resort, or a family beach holiday that just happens to have a casino nearby. For Asian gamblers, the Philippines continues to be a friendly destination (with liberal visas for many nations) that is actively adding new locations across the archipelago. Whether it’s the familiar lights of Metro Manila expanding or fresh resorts in second-tier cities, the Philippines is enhancing its casino offerings to keep pace with its neighbors.

India (Goa)

India’s casinos are primarily concentrated in Goa, the country’s tropical beach state, where gambling is officially regulated. Goa has long been known for its offshore “floating” casinos on the Mandovi River, but now land-based integrated resorts are on the horizon.

The biggest news is that Delta Corp (India’s largest casino operator) obtained approval for a massive land parcel in Pernem, North Goa, to develop a new integrated resort. In late 2024, the Goa government controversially re-zoned 33.3 hectares of previously protected irrigation land to accommodate the Delta project, a resort that will ultimately include three hotels, a convention center, a multiplex cinema, a retail area, a water park, and banquet facilities.

Essentially, Goa is making way for a Las Vegas-style complex amid the lush coastal greenery. For tourists, this is significant news: Goa’s casino scene may soon transition from boats to a land-based “Mini Vegas” in the north. The government even waived certain land-use fees to expedite the project.

Although local activists have raised environmental concerns, casino enthusiasts will eagerly watch as construction advances. Upon completion, Delta Corp’s development will join existing riverboat and hotel-casinos to create a multi-venue gambling circuit in Goa.

Imagine spending a day lounging on Vagator Beach and the next night trying your luck in a glamorous Indo-Portuguese casino resort nearby. If this ambitious Goa project succeeds, India’s casino tourism could evolve from a niche travel quirk into a mainstream holiday attraction, at least for travelers who recognize the party extends off the beach and onto the gaming tables.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is set to open its first mega-casino resort. The Colombo skyline will soon be dominated by City of Dreams Sri Lanka, a joint venture between John Keells Holdings and Melco Resorts.

This $1.2 billion integrated resort, originally known as Cinnamon Life, has been slowly rising along the city’s south coast since 2014. Phase 1 opened in October 2024, featuring a 687-room hotel and retail podium, while the remaining components, which include a second 113-room hotel (Nuwa), the casino, and a retail mall, are scheduled to launch together in the third quarter of 2025. Developers promote this as a transformative project for South Asia.

Sri Lankan media reports that once complete, City of Dreams Colombo will serve as an engine for tourism growth, generating significant foreign exchange and thousands of jobs. Melco has even committed an additional $125 million to the venture, expecting the casino to generate roughly $200  million in gaming revenue per year. In practical terms, tourists in Sri Lanka will soon have a Vegas-style option by the ocean, featuring luxury suites, celebrity chef restaurants, and live entertainment encircling a glittering casino floor.

This project underscores Sri Lanka’s aim to diversify beyond beaches and temples, positioning itself as a regional entertainment hub. By 2025, gamblers traveling in South Asia will discover a new, high-end casino escape in Colombo.

Timor-Leste

Even tiny Timor-Leste is joining the casino map. In February 2025, the government signed a deal with Singaporean developer APSI to build the country’s first casino resort.

The plan calls for a five-star hotel with a “respectable, high-security” casino hall (about a 5,000 sq m gaming space) on the island, with a modest $60 million investment for the casino portion. Timor-Leste’s president has expressed personal concerns about local gambling, but the resort is aimed squarely at foreign tourists. The developers even pitched related tourism draws like whale-watching and diving to give visitors more reasons to come. This gamble makes sense given Timor’s needs.

The nation of 1.3 million people welcomed under 75,000 foreign tourists in 2019, a fraction of neighboring tourism hubs. With its oil fund reserves under pressure, Timor-Leste is eager to diversify its economy, and tourism is seen as a growth path. For casino enthusiasts who wander the globe, a visit to Timor-Leste’s first casino would be the ultimate in off-the-beaten-path adventure. Picture a pristine island resort by the coral reef, where the day’s highlight is not just snorkeling but also trying your luck at a high-end slot machine in the evening.

As odd as it sounds, this is exactly the kind of undiscovered destination some travelers seek, and soon it will be the only place in the world where such a casino experience can be had.

The Booming Emerging Asian Casino Tourism

Asia’s gambling renaissance extends beyond the previously mentioned countries. In summary, integrated resorts are emerging in locations once thought improbable for gaming. For tour operators and vacationers, this means more options each year: from Tokyo to Timor, exciting new casino destinations are on the rise.

Looking ahead, these developments indicate that Asia’s casino tourism will become increasingly vibrant. New laws and investments are aligning to place these locales on the global map of gaming hotspots. Tourists who enjoy combining travel with entertainment will soon have a pan-Asian playground of casinos to explore, without needing a flight to Las Vegas or Macau.

In the coming years, casino enthusiasts will plan trips not just to Singapore or Jeju, but also to Bangkok’s resorts, Vietnam’s beaches, Goa’s shores, and beyond. The Asian casino boom is unfolding in real-time, and savvy travelers will want to be among the first to try their luck in these emerging gambling paradises.