Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's office said in a statement that MGM Mirage, the second largest U.S. casino operator, is looking for a Thai partner to establish a casino in the Southeast Asian country.

Thanksgiving met Tuesday with Terrence Lani, CEO of MGM Mirage. MGM Mirage's interest may have come from Thaksin's support in August for a move to legalize casinos to increase revenue and reduce the government's fiscal deficit and debt.

Thailand has recorded fiscal deficits over the past five years, and the gap between spending and income is expected to be about 140 billion baht ($3.2 billion) in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30.

For Las Vegas-based MGM Mirage, the venture will allow the company to target its business from Thais and foreign tourists from Thailand, which had 10 million international visitors last year. The company failed to obtain one of three casino licenses provided by Macau after the former Portuguese colony ended a 40-year gambling monopoly on tycoon Stanley in February.

Thailand's government says casinos must gain public support before allowing them to operate legally. Religious groups protested when previous governments proposed such a plan. In Thailand, the only legal forms of gambling are horse racing betting and state lottery tickets.

Casinos in neighboring Malaysia, Cambodia, and Myanmar are attracting Thai tourists who cannot legally gamble in the country. Legalizing casino gambling will also help the government reduce corruption, Thaksin said.

Separately, the Mexican corporation reported that a new federal gaming law could be approved in December that would allow legal casinos to tap the giant gambling market currently offered by hundreds or even 1,000 secret casinos operating in Mexico.

"The casinos will also aim to contribute to the economic and social development of the region and are expected to help tourism expand, import more foreign currency, and create jobs," the publication said.

And in Japan, more than 500 local officials, lawmakers and television broadcasters joined Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara at a mock casino for a day last week to promote Tokyo's plan to introduce gambling facilities, Nikkei Economic News reported.

For City Hall casinos, Tokyo had Conamisa fly in 39 slot machines from Las Vegas and Australia. The Japanese video game giant is Japan's leader in the casino business and has been licensed to produce and sell slot machines in Nevada since 2000.

The Nikkei reports that the idea, which started in Tokyo, is now spreading to the heart of Japan. Atami City, Shizuoka Prefecture, established a joint government-private council in July to attract casinos. 바다이야기

Akita Prefecture made a similar organization. Nearly 10 local governments, including Miyazaki Prefecture and Okinawa Prefecture, which are seeking ways to use the facilities of the failed Segaia resort, are expressing interest in casinos. A group of lawmakers promoting casinos was also formed within the Liberal Democratic Party.

Despite the many challenges, including the changes needed in existing laws, Nikkei said the government-led efforts are increasingly expected to make the casino introduction a reality in Japan.