Pattaya sees rise in independent Chinese tourists amid decline in group tours

[steven100]

4 hours ago, jippytum said:

Wonder if  the players arrested for playing bridge in Pattaya have moved into the big time. 

some are still in prison  ?

[Brian Hull]

Surely the Thai cops have more important things to worry about than a bunch of guys playing cards. How many Police Colonels were included in the raid? Why haven't we seen the usual photos of the heroic Police officers who carried out such a dangerous mission?

[PJ71]

21 hours ago, simon43 said:

More likely the locals are sick of foreigners flouting the law......

There's not bigger fish to fry than a few people playing cards?

 

Bus LPG violations would be considered more important, no?

 

Thailand is full of grasses - lower than a snakes belly.....

[PomPolo]

I get the laws and as guests in the country we should be abiding them, I was in the process of sorting out a game with my expat friends a couple of months ago, at the last minute a few of them cancelled, probably saved us an arrest!!!!

 

Any western person probably thinks it is crazy (and it is) that a group of people are not allowed to play cards for what is probably a small amount of money as a social thing, it doesn't look like they have signs outside saying "Bobs poker joint"

At least the cops can't complain about this bit below, personally I think it is helping the economy and giving work to Thais!

 

21 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

alongside one dealer and a housemaid who was serving food at the time of the raid

 

If anyone sees any cheap gambling "paraphernalia" about please feel free to PM me the "confiscators" must be after a bob or two for that stuff looks like a nice table!

 

21 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The dealer, a Thai national, was also taken into custody. All suspects, along with the confiscated items

[Gottfrid]

5 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

What nonesense. They were gambling. It’s illegal. Police have the rights to raid. 

Where did I say they did not have the right to raid?

Where did I say that gambling is not illegal?

What I said, was that they must understand, there is nothing illegal with using your money for entertainment as long as it´s not hurting anybody physically. However, they don´t!

[PETERTHEEATER]

7 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

 

 

They are bang to rights for having 37 decks of cards! 

 

Thailand has a unique law regulating playing cards. This law, known as the Playing Cards Act, was enacted in 1943. Its primary purpose is to control the production, distribution, and possession of playing cards within the country.  

 

 

Key points of the Playing Cards Act:

• Quantity Restriction: A person is generally allowed to possess no more than 120 playing cards. This limit is intended to prevent illegal gambling activities.  
   

   
• Official Stamp: All playing cards sold in Thailand must bear an official stamp from the Excise Department. This stamp indicates that the cards have been approved for sale and taxation.
• Production and Import: The production and import of playing cards are strictly regulated.
   
  Only authorized entities can produce or import playing cards.

 

Uno players would not fall under this law, and the bridge club members were not arrested for playing bridge, but for having too many playing cards.

Shoot! I am shredding my two packs of Happy Families cards right now! Thanks for the tip.

[portisaacozzy]

8 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

 

 

They are bang to rights for having 37 decks of cards! 

 

Thailand has a unique law regulating playing cards. This law, known as the Playing Cards Act, was enacted in 1943. Its primary purpose is to control the production, distribution, and possession of playing cards within the country.  

 

 

Key points of the Playing Cards Act:

• Quantity Restriction: A person is generally allowed to possess no more than 120 playing cards. This limit is intended to prevent illegal gambling activities.  
   

  Thailand could be paradise if only it wa a nother country
• Official Stamp: All playing cards sold in Thailand must bear an official stamp from the Excise Department. This stamp indicates that the cards have been approved for sale and taxation.
• Production and Import: The production and import of playing cards are strictly regulated.
   
  Only authorized entities can produce or import playing cards.

 

Uno players would not fall under this law, and the bridge club members were not arrested for playing bridge, but for having too many playing cards.

 

[Shocked farang]

23 hours ago, NE1 said:

More than likely that they didn't " pay for permission " like the locals do !

Exactly, the "tea money" was missing! 

[smedly]

23 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

You're trying to apply western legal logic. These guys were flat out breaking the law and the BiB make the laws here.

 

pity they don't put as much effort into catching drunk drivers, a more worthy cause IMO

[NativeBob]

12 minutes ago, smedly said:

 

pity they don't put as much effort into catching drunk drivers, a more worthy cause IMO

The whole idea of such activity is squeezing money in any possible way. A.k.a "extortion". 

That's why it is more profitable to "raid" bunch of foreigners, scare them and make them pay "fines" than chasing drunk khun Din-Dong on his ugly truck.

Nobody think that they are for "to save and protect" right?

Same goes to so-called "tourist" police minions.

[RethairedJarhead]

I love Texas Hold’em- had a weekly game with a group of friends in the US. Great times! 
 

I think it’s futile to argue legalities in the land of smiles but rather wise to navigate your way within the culture. Personally, I won’t put my privilege to stay at risk.
 

I’d bet there are other games undetected where there is no harm done and good times had.
 

Supposedly, they’re moving forward with the casino in Pattaya and that’s definitely not the same as a home game- doubt I would partake but I think it will generate jobs and stimulate tourism. The current PM‘s father was a proponent in the past- more than likely that this will happen. 
 

By the way, isn’t a lottery gambling? Aren’t there 2 distinct and commonly played lotteries in Thailand?
 

Asking for a friend…

 

Rhetorical yet relevant questions.

[AndreasHG]

On 10/10/2024 at 2:34 PM, Georgealbert said:

nine players were arrested, alongside one dealer and a housemaid who was serving food at the time of the raid

 

It's the second time I read that the Thai police arrested a housemaid serving food at a crime scene, and I can't help but feeling sorry for the poor maid.

 

Is she going to serve long years in a Thai jail? Was her food instrumental in committing the crime? Or was it that the food served was found disgusting? Maybe a hungry policeman got food poisoning?

 

Hard to tell, but housemaid is definitely a tricky job in Thailand.

 

[moe666]

On 10/10/2024 at 3:03 PM, JoePai said:

The raid followed reports from local residents = Jealous maybe ?

No they probly got tired of being woken up at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. 

[PingRoundTheWorld]

Between this, and arresting the Dildo Crime Ring, I feel safer already. Keep up the good job BiB.

 

How about they go after real crime? like violence and vaping?

[NativeBob]

49 minutes ago, PingRoundTheWorld said:

Between this, and arresting the Dildo Crime Ring, I feel safer already. Keep up the good job BiB.

 

How about they go after real crime? like violence and vaping?

There's no money involved in "go after real crime".

 

However Dildo Mafia brought "tangible goods" that will hit the streets next week. 

Poker Suckers will buy their "freedom from prosecution" with hefty "fines". 

How primitive and yet efficient could that be?

The Dream Job!

[ElHeffe2025]

Interesting law they have there, especially considering the other things that are business as usual in Thailand.

[jacko45k]

21 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

 

The bridge players were "busted" for breaking the Playing Cards Act 1943 which states no more than 120 playing cards, they were not "busted" for gambling.

Initial reports stated gambling, and the police modified their story as time went on. It was a fiasco that is for sure.