More Than 100 Arrested

[Boon Mee]

More than 100 arrested in Bangkok casino on New Year's Eve

Bangkok | January 01, 2006 6:15:07 PM IST

More than 100 gamblers' last bet of 2005 won them time in the local police station after police here raided an illegal casino in the early hours of the year's last day, local media reported Sunday.

Media reports said police arrested between 108 and 119 gamblers and confiscated about $50,000 (two million baht) from the casino in a north Bangkok suburb.

Police had raided the same casino last June arresting 353 gamblers and confiscating 56 million baht that time.

Police said they would request a stronger penalty for the casino owner because he was already on probation on a charge of running an illegal casino.

Many Bangkok gamblers made a safer bet for the New Year and travelled to Poipet, Cambodia, 210 km east of Bangkok, and the legal casinos there.

Thailand has no legal casinos, but there are several just across the borders in neighbouring Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma) that Thai gamblers frequent. But those take a better part of a days' travel, so illegal gambling dens remain part of the underground Bangkok landscape

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[ilyushin]

Just make it legal.

[dantilley]

Just make it legal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They're planning to soon, aren't they? It would be a very brave move to do that though, the floodgates would open and I'm sure the Thai gambling addict population would skyrocket.

[monsieurhappy]

Why should they bother to make it legal? Somebody has made 58 million baht out of it in 6 months besides all the fines. Best police money can buy!

[Scott]

What a sad way to bring in the New Year. I thought staying home and sleeping through it was bad!

[steveromagnino]

Just make it legal.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am curious - why do you think they should legalise it? I used to work for a casino, and I am not sure they bring good things to the country they are located in (Cambodia is somewhat the exception, because only rich connected Cambodians get to play).... would be interested to hear your view?

[britmaveric]

Legalize gambling = Disaster!!! It's a problem now - just think what it would b e like if it were legal.