Picture courtesy of The Pattaya News

 

In a decisive move against illegal gambling, police in Chon Buri, in coordination with Chon Buri Immigration Police, dismantled an illicit poker den in a residential part of Pattaya. The raid, carried out on August 25, resulted in the arrest of nine foreign nationals—five Chinese and four South Korean individuals.

 

The operation began around 2:30pm at a location in Soi Thung Klom-Tan Man 5/1. The crackdown was led by Police Lieutenant General Phanumas Boonyalak, Commander of the Immigration Bureau, alongside a team from the Chon Buri Immigration Office, Nongprue Police Station, and Tourist Police. This collaborative force acted upon local reports highlighting foreign vehicles repeatedly blocking residential roads, raising suspicions of illicit activities.

 

Upon raiding the premises, officers discovered an active poker game, promptly detaining the players and seizing various gambling paraphernalia. This included four poker tables, 60 decks of cards, nine mobile phones, a cash-counting machine, and a substantial collection of gambling chips. The police also confiscated 150,360 baht in cash—a portion of the assets, with the total haul valued over 1 million baht (approximately US$30,720).

 

Initial inquiries reveal that the illegal poker games had been running for about ten days. The den's operations drew attention due to repeated obstructions caused by foreign vehicles in the area, leading concerned residents to notify authorities.

 

The suspects have been transferred to Nongprue Police Station, facing charges for organising and engaging in illegal gambling activities. Furthermore, 35-year-old Hao Tang, a Chinese national and the identified organiser of the illicit games, faces additional charges for overstaying his visa by six days.

 

This crackdown forms part of ongoing investigations aimed at uncovering the extent of involvement in this gambling network. Despite Thailand's consideration of legalising poker within the realm of sports-related events, private gambling remains firmly outlawed.

 

This raid is part of a broader effort to tackle illegal gambling operations across the region. In a related incident, police conducted a raid on a dragon-tiger gambling site in Bang Yai, where 54 individuals were apprehended, and 218,340 baht was seized. This marked the second such operation in the area in just two weeks, underscoring the authorities' intensified crackdown on gambling activities.

 

The incidents reflect Thailand's ongoing battle against illegal gambling, a challenge compounded by potential shifts in legislation regarding poker. While the possibility of legalising poker as a sport is on the horizon, such moves remain in the early stages and strictly regulated under current laws.

 

As the investigations continue, authorities remain engaged in curbing illegal activities plaguing residential areas and reinforcing the importance of public cooperation in reporting suspicious activities. This partnership between the community and law enforcement is crucial in maintaining the integrity and safety of neighbourhoods across the region.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-27

 

What? Asians gambling? Shocking!  Handing cards or dice to an Asian is like giving liquor to a Red Indian.