Melco Resorts Predicts Tourism Boost in Thailand as The White Lotus Season 3 Looms

Melco Resorts, one of Asia’s leading gaming companies, has addressed the upcoming third season of The White Lotus, predicting that it would encourage more people to visit Thailand. This could potentially benefit gambling operators as the country prepares to give casino gaming a go.

The White Lotus May Popularize Thailand

The White Lotus is a black comedy drama series created by Mike White for HBO. It follows the complex relationships of the employees and visitors at the fictional White Lotus resort chain.

The first two seasons of the show hit the market in 2021 and 2022 and were set in Hawaii and Sicily, respectively. The third season, scheduled to premiere on February 16 this year, was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui in Thailand, sparking optimism about its potential impact on tourism.

Melco Resorts believes that The White Lotus’ popularity and critical acclaim would encourage more people to visit the country. This would also benefit gaming operators if Thailand proceeds with its ongoing casino legislation. As a company keen on exploring casino opportunities in the kingdom, Melco has a lot to gain if The White Lotus season 3 boosts the region’s appeal.

At the Thailand Creative Culture Agency’s recent conference, Melco chair Lawrence Ho cited the tourism boost Deadwood in South Dakota received in the aftermath of HBO’s Deadwood series as the reason for his optimism.

Ho praised Thailand’s hospitality traditions and cultural heritage, saying that it is poised to become a major destination for tourism.

Melco Is Interested in Thailand

Melco is among the potential bidders for a casino concession in Thailand and, as such, has closely followed the recent legislative strides in the country. The Royal Thai Government is in process of wrapping up the final stages of its casino law.

The body will likely greenlight five casino resorts, with Melco poised to be one of the operators. While the company has been hugely interested in operating a casino in the kingdom, it continues to await the final version of the regulations before determining its bid.

The five integrated resorts in Thailand will likely be located in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, with the capital set to host two of them. Experts believe that the local gaming industry could post GGR of up to $9 million when mature.

Macau Paid Bonuses to Its Workers in Macau and Hong Kong

In other news, Melco was among the Macau concessionaires that provided their employees with holiday bonuses. The casino company paid out a one-month discretionary bonus to its non-management team members in Macau and Hong Kong, thanking them for their hard work.

The company has remained a staple in the Asian market and remains interested in expanding its local footprint despite its decision to give up on exploring opportunities in Japan.