Picture courtesy of natural8

 

In a decisive move reflecting Thailand's hardline stance on gambling, the Ministry of Interior has announced the immediate ban on permits for all poker and card games. Signed by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the directive No. 3179/2568 was unveiled on October 22. It overturns a prior directive from July, halting all current and potential approvals for gambling-related card activities.

 

This announcement follows Anutin's promise to Parliament on September 29, committing to a stringent crackdown on illegal gambling activities. The government's position is firm: there will be no legalisation of gambling or the creation of gambling-inclusive entertainment venues. This initiative specifically targets poker, a popular sport.

 

“To ensure all operations align with national policy, we have suspended all poker and card game permits effective immediately,” a ministry spokesperson confirmed. The order is supported by the laws in Section 17 of the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 (1935), which gives the minister the authority to cancel gambling licenses and set new rules as needed. This marks a pivotal change in Thailand's legislative handling of recreational gambling.

 

During the same announcement day, Anutin led a Royal Thai Police Commission discussion focused on further anti-crime strategies. On unrelated matters, when questioned about Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s resignation as Pheu Thai Party leader, Anutin stated he had no information to share.

 

Though poker players may express dissatisfaction, the government maintains that the prohibition is critical to deter gambling-associated crime and financial detriments. The authorities stress that even seemingly innocent poker nights could contravene the new law.

 

The Ministry of Interior emphatically stated: “There will be no support for any form of gambling under this administration, whether traditional, digital, or disguised as sport.” As of now, the directive applies comprehensively across the nation.

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Newsroom

 

Key Takeaways:

 

• The Ministry of Interior bans all poker permits with immediate effect.
• Directive aligned with a broader policy to eliminate illegal gambling.
• Government asserts ban is crucial for preventing gambling-linked crime.

 

Related Stories:

Thailand Moves to Legalise Poker as a Sport

Thai Government Addresses Confusion Over Poker Policy

 

Picture courtesy of ThaiPost

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-10-22

 

 

they should also take a look at the slot machine gambling APPS available on phones, I know of  3 girls that have been conned out of their savings - tens of thousands of baht each

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The Ministry of Interior emphatically stated: “There will be no support for any form of gambling under this administration, whether traditional, digital, or disguised as sport.” As of now, the directive applies comprehensively across the nation.

Unless it's our lottery.

This is a bit of a case of old man's nanny squad nostalgia for the past harking back to some mirage of purity these dinosaurs think they grew up in... always the same.

Gambling should be allowed but also restricted as it is like a drug and can be addictive... let the proletariat have the national lottery and low level stuff etc. (which they still due with the informal betting you see everywhere), then let the better off go to casinos designed so they can't bankrupt themselves on silly high buy-in games, and tax it accoundingly. For the very rich, then sod off to Macau or Vegas... as you'll way more fun than around here.

This turd will cancel tax free crypto soon too.

And in every village every day gambling continues and will always continue. Of course it's not just in the villages. Every school trip I've been on and I've been on many the cards always come out.

The Government will control everything for everybody,, except their own lottery is allowed and now they have extended it wit a so called save for your pension lottery... Many foreigners are used to play cards in their freetime just for fun, not as a gambling game. But in Thailand everything must be controlled by the Government and nothing is allowed as everything can be seen as gambling...darts, snooker, playing cards, bull races, chicken fights, etc.. Thailand means a free land, but the freedom is far  far away

Thailand is still in the dark ages on many issues.

Grow the f  up.

Flip-flop. Thai politics.

 

In other news just a few months earlier

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3081141/poker-becomes-legal-for-tourneys

 

Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has officially signed an order legalising poker games for money under controlled conditions, with the aim of paving the way for international-level tournaments to be held in the country.

Please credit and share this article with others using this link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3081141/poker-becomes-legal-for-tourneys. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.

Strip poker still allowed? Crazy 8's? How about kids game 'war'...? Pokeman? or is it Pokemon? 

15 hours ago, Peabody said:

Unless it's our lottery.

 

Has to be the worst value lottery in the world

6 hours ago, dinsdale said:

And in every village every day gambling continues and will always continue. Of course it's not just in the villages. Every school trip I've been on and I've been on many the cards always come out.

The popular game up here is "9s". Have no idea how it works but the tables are set up and out come the cards after the monks have left at every coming funeral ceremony. The bored housewives love the game too.

I only play cards in a legal casino, carry on.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

“To ensure all operations align with national policy, we have suspended all poker and card game permits effective immediately,” a ministry spokesperson confirmed

Punishment for not granting them the permits to make their casino. The timing is too near to be anything else. They were more than willing to make a casino for gamblers to go to but now that it has been rejected, they reject all gambling even with a permit. 

That's The pattaya bridge club screwed!

 

🤣🤣🤔☻☻☻🚀

So all that will be left are the police owned or approved underground gambling dens.  

On 10/22/2025 at 2:45 PM, webfact said:

The government's position is firm: there will be no legalisation of gambling or the creation of gambling-inclusive entertainment venues. This initiative specifically targets poker, a popular sport.

That's going to upset a few high-rollers

4 hours ago, cowellandrew said:

That's The pattaya bridge club screwed!

 

🤣🤣🤔☻☻☻🚀

On the same day that it's founder, Barry Kenyon, is laid to rest. 😔

7 hours ago, cowellandrew said:

That's The pattaya bridge club screwed!

 

🤣🤣🤔☻☻☻🚀

Again..??

On 10/22/2025 at 2:45 PM, webfact said:

“To ensure all operations align with national policy, we have suspended all poker and card game permits effective immediately,”

Except for horse racing betting is allowed within the race course facility.

Otherwise ?

"The Best Online Casinos in Thailand 2025", October 23, 2025

https://esportsinsider.com/row/gambling/online-casinos-thailand

BK8 is the best casino online in Thailand overall. ??

On 10/22/2025 at 4:38 PM, Peabody said:

Unless it's our lottery.

cock fights Muay Thai or horse races

On 10/22/2025 at 9:31 PM, proton said:

 

Has to be the worst value lottery in the world

Yes, and the lottery runs parallel to the banks and the amazing dividends/interests they give.

And they wonder why tourism is down. They just flip flop so often on everything that you have no idea what you can and can’t do here , day to day. So much for the Land of Smiles. Now it is the Land of crazy ever changing rules and laws. 

 

What's the current price of cards at 7-11? 

Many years ago, a couple of guys I met at the Soi 7 Beer Garden in BKK asked if I wanted to join them and 3 girls at PB Hotel for some strip poker. They said we'll pay the girls, you buy the cards. 2 decks at 7-11 were almost as much as 1 girl.

Didn't need 2 decks!  🙂

On 10/22/2025 at 2:45 PM, webfact said:

all poker and card games.

 

.....and card games....?? I take it the idiots mean gambling card games, Brag, Pontoon.......but then again you could gamble on snap or Bu99er my Neighbour?????

 

 

On 10/22/2025 at 12:15 PM, yozah said:

This turd will cancel tax free crypto soon too.

Let’s hope so. 

26 minutes ago, Reddavy said:

Let’s hope so. 

Why?

On 10/22/2025 at 3:53 PM, smedly said:

they should also take a look at the slot machine gambling APPS available on phones, I know of  3 girls that have been conned out of their savings - tens of thousands of baht each

conned or merely over did things

I don't indulge personally, but for those who want to its up to them and

no skin off my nose. I do have some  sympathy for their loss   Pity the anti weed brigade could not follow suit

I would however advise against a gambling woman as a partner compared to a drinker,,as there is a limit how much hong thong they can drink in a day, but no limit on how much they can gamble away though