Illegal Online Casino Hits Pattaya

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: July 2nd 2008

ILLEGAL ONLINE CASINO HITS PATTAYA

Pattaya Police closed down a big online casino being played in central Pattaya City on 2 July, 2008, confiscated 10 computers, worth over Bt300,000, and arrested some players. The shop owner escaped immediate arrest by running away.

At 00.30 am, 2 July, Superintendent Police Colonel Noppadol Wongnom, and his plain-clothes team, marched in to search an Internet shop in Soho square, Lock 4-5, Walking Street after they had received a report that the shop had been opened as 24-hour, online casino.

There was a big sign in front of the shop, which said 24-hour Internet and game service. There was a thick white curtain in the shop window, obscuring everything. In the shop, police found 4 computers and 4 electronic games machines of the touch screen type. Police discovered that their service was not the normal Internet service, but was actually a new type of fully operational online casino called "WELCOME ONLINE CASINO"

At the time, there were 2 customers in the shop: Mr. Peerasak Wootibunchorn (25) and Mrs. Somjit Boonreungsri(36). Police arrested both of them with their ID or chip cards which you can exchange for cash. The shop owner, however, managed to escape. After searching the shop, police also found documents showing the name of the owner, Mr. Kittitatch Masapan (44) from U-dornthani. In addition, Police found 20 ID chips worth Bt200-1000 each and an account book .

All the evidence, consisting of the chips, account book, 4 sets of computers, 6 sets of gaming machines with all the accessories, worth in total over Bt300,000, was confiscated.

Police questioned the players, who explained that this kind of game has just arrived in Thailand, recently. The electronic machines were developed from slot machines or horse racing machines. This Internet casino emporium is one of the big ones in Pattaya, but the trend is rapidly spreading throughout Pattaya City.

To play, the player can just scratch the card to get the pin code, then put it in the slot of the machine and choose which game to play. There were many kinds of game to choose from: cards, high-low, horse racing; all of which are played against the owner. Winners can cash their money in straight away- easy,safe and fun, but illegal! If they win, the machine will transfer the money right into their machine through their card and when they finish, they only have to take the chip card to the owner to obtain cash. Apparently, now, there are a lot of players, including foreigners who are addicted to this kind of gambling and they don't have to travel to a real casino.

The two arrested players were taken to the police station for processing and their games paraphernalia confiscated. The evidence was also taken to the police station and when they eventually find Mr. Kittitach, the owner, he will be prosecuted for running an illegal gambling emporium.

Photograph courtesy of Pattaya Daily News

[Humphrey Bear]

Excellent!

I am totally opposed to gambling as I have seen too many people destroyed by the addiction.

When in my early twenties I was going out with a girl whise father was a bookie in the East End (of London). As we were fairly serious, he took me into the business for a time. Although many of the punters could handle the profits and losses, there were those who couldn't. And their families suffered as the addiction grew and the 'double-your-stake' fever took hold.

Another friend used to play at 'La Discotheque' in Wardour Street. He had plenty of money - owned two hotels. About three years later he owned the clothes he wore - and nothing else.

In SE Asia there seems to be a gene present that requires people to gamble on the most stupid things for te most idiotic stakes. And there is no fun derived - if they win (seldom) the money goes to pay debts or is spent on booze - if they lose (frequently) then they borrow money to have another try - and another - and another.

The laws against gambling should be reinforced and enforced.

And gambling against machines, where the odds are concealed from the players, is just crass stupidity.