The World Poker Tour has confirmed that the WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition will be held from July 30 to August 5, 2025. The event will take place at UOB LIVE, located on the fifth floor of the EMSPHERE retail complex in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit Soi 11 district. This will be Thailand’s first international poker exhibition.

UOB LIVE to Host Thailand’s First International Poker Event

The WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition will be hosted inside UOB LIVE, a 4,464-square-meter concert hall known for previous performances by BLACKPINK and Ed Sheeran. For the event, the space will be converted into an arena-style poker venue, accommodating up to 2,000 players.

The tournament floor will feature up to 100 poker tables. The layout will include a tournament information desk, registration areas with fast support, travel package service counters, and a dedicated massage and rest area. The venue will also provide a power bank rental zone and a merchandise booth offering WPT Prime Thailand souvenirs.

Travel Packages Replace Traditional Buy-Ins

Participation in the event will require purchasing one of three travel packages, rather than using a standard tournament buy-in format. These packages will be sold on-site at designated travel agency counters. The three tiers are priced at:

• THB 7,000 (approximately $212 USD)
• THB 14,000 (approximately $425 USD)
• THB 37,000 (approximately $1,125 USD)

Each package includes entry to one or more exhibition events, depending on the tier. The THB 37,000 tier includes access to the WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition Championship, which is supported by a THB 37 million ($1 million USD) sponsored travel fund.

The event is open to all players aged 18 and older from any region, including local Thai players. It is classified as a poker exhibition and will not award WPT Player of the Year points.

Government Agreement and Planned Expansion

In April 2025, Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong and the director of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, announced a formal agreement with the World Poker Tour and RF Tourism & Sports Competition Club to support the exhibition. A joint task force was created to facilitate logistics. The collaboration plans to host three to four WPT-branded events in Thailand each year.

Government projections estimate that a 14-day poker event could attract over 10,000 visitors and generate more than THB1 billion in economic activity.

Online Gambling and Legal Developments in 2025

In January 2025, the Thai government introduced a draft law titled the “Integrated Entertainment Business Act,” which proposed casino-entertainment zones in Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. The proposed legislation would limit casino space to 5–10% of a development and apply a 17% gross gaming revenue tax. The proposal also included a preliminary discussion of regulating online gambling.

In July 2025, the bill was tabled for debate but was not passed. It was shelved by the cabinet later that month, halting further progress on legalization at this time.

Meanwhile, reports from January 2025 indicated that online gambling, particularly mobile gaming and live-dealer poker, continues to grow in popularity in Thailand. Sites such as Ufabet have seen increased usage among Thai players for both casino and sports betting content.

EMSPHERE Shopping Complex Opened in 2024

EMSPHERE officially opened in 2024 following a THB 20 billion investment. The nine-story, 150,000-square-meter facility features over 1,000 retail brands, including Chanel, BYREDO, and local Thai boutiques. It receives more than 30,000 visitors per day.

Dining options include the EM-WONDER zone on the fifth floor, which houses restaurants such as DAKJIB and Super Shakariki 432, along with cocktail and wine lounges. The 24/7 EM-Market provides access to both Thai street food and international cuisine.

WPT Asia Events Leading to Bangkok

The WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition is part of the World Poker Tour’s ongoing expansion into Asia. In January 2024, WPT held its Main Tour event in Cambodia for the first time. The JP Poker Series took place in April 2025, and the WPT Asia Swing included stops in Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam earlier in the year.

The Bangkok event is organized by WPT Global and follows the “Play + Travel” model. Players will compete in poker exhibitions while experiencing the EMSPHERE complex and the city of Bangkok.