"Snooker" is recognized worldwide as a "sport," so why has "Thailand" yet to remove its gambling classification?
The victory of "F Nakhon Nayok" or Thepchaiya Un-Nooh at the 2026 World Open in Yushan, China, where he defeated legend Ronnie O'Sullivan and achieved a maximum 147 break, reignited debate in Thai society about why a sport in which Thai athletes have gained international fame is still not legally recognized in Thailand as a "sport" fully. Recently, a draft law to remove snooker from gambling laws failed after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul did not endorse it. “Big Saraburi,” Attasit Mahitthi, former World Amateur Snooker Champion and one of the advocates for this cause, posted the message:
“This is not about any one group but concerns the future of the sport and Thai athletes.”
“If Thai snooker has world-class potential and athletes who bring honor to the country, then what reasons prevent Thailand from legally unlocking snooker as a proper sport? Why did the Prime Minister not endorse this law?”
Root of the problem: Nearly century-old law
The root cause is the Gambling Act of 1935, which lists “billiards and snooker” in Schedule B, item 23, placing the activity under the Ministry of Interior's control. Although newer laws like the 2013 Professional Sports Promotion Act and the 2015 Sports Authority of Thailand Act recognize professional athletes, in practice, training venues still operate under restrictions limiting athletes’ potential.
A further complication is that although Schedule B theoretically allows operating permission, Ministry of Interior ministerial regulations have effectively banned such permissions since 1962, except narrowly for two cases: playing at home with no more than one table, or in registered clubs with no more than five tables. Additionally, child protection laws restrict those under 20 from using these facilities, a significant barrier preventing talented youth from training in standard clubs freely.
Conflicting policies
This situation reflects conflicting government views: the Department of Provincial Administration sees snooker as a gambling-risk activity needing moral and public order control, while the Sports Authority regards it as a professional sport worthy of promotion to enhance skills and national prestige. Some politicians have raised the issue publicly, noting that while Thai athletes have reached the world’s top, their home country still views their activity as a vice, damaging the sport’s image and morale in the long term.
Even advocates against gambling agree on elevating snooker as a sport. They suggest the government clearly distinguish between “sport” and “gambling,” noting that the key fix should be amending the Ministry of Interior’s ministerial regulations banning permissions rather than overhauling the entire Gambling Act, which covers hundreds of gambling types and could prolong the process.
How is snooker viewed abroad?
Internationally, snooker is recognized far beyond what Thai law currently allows. It is a sport recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) through the World Billiards Sports Federation and has been part of the World Games since 2001, as well as included in the Asian Games. Although it has not yet been selected for the Olympic program—failing bids for the 2021 and 2024 Olympics—it plans to try again for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics in Australia.
The United Kingdom, the birthplace of the sport, uses the Gambling Act 2005 to clearly separate “gambling” from “professional sport.” Establishments with snooker tables are classified accordingly: sports clubs receive tax benefits and local support but are strictly prohibited from gambling on training premises. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has an integrity unit working with government gambling regulators to monitor suspicious odds, punishing match-fixing with lifetime bans. Moreover, sports club licenses are strictly separate from alcohol licenses, allowing youth under 18 to train in accredited academies without legal obstacles related to service venues.
China takes a state-led approach, investing heavily in modern national training centers in Beijing and Shanghai, combining academic studies with practice so youth become official sports scholarship students. At the same time, it enforces strict discipline: in 2023, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association banned 10 players involved in gambling scandals to protect its image and ethics. China now has about 300,000 registered snooker clubs nationwide, and Yushan, where Thepchaiya recently won, has been developed as the “World Snooker City,” with factories producing tables and equipment, creating jobs and exports. This sustained investment has helped Chinese players become recent world champions and has been a key factor for the WPBSA chairman to note the IOC's growing attention to the sport.
These two models differ greatly but share one key point: a systematic separation of “sport” and “gambling” through clear laws and regulatory bodies, unlike Thailand’s mixed situation.
Proposed solutions
In Thailand, proposals include clearly categorizing club licenses—for example, one type dedicated to sports excellence allowing youth access but strictly banning gambling and alcohol, and another for general recreation under existing gambling law control. It is also suggested that relevant agencies—Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Sports Authority of Thailand, and the Snooker Sports Association—collaborate to resolve nearly 90 years of legal obstacles.
Ultimately, the question of whether snooker is a sport has been answered clearly at the international level. The remaining issue is how quickly Thailand will update its laws and regulatory framework to align with the reality that its athletes are creating on the world stage.