Bangkok: Raid on infamous Tao Poon casino fails as search warrant expires

[Imkah]

Why raid a casino at 7pm anyway especially an illegal one in Bangkok. It wouldn't fill up till 10pm or midnight. They obviously wanted to go when it would be empty with no chance of having to arrest a client who was well heeled.

As it happens I found one of the BIB training Video's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8jphxpi1ro

I have never been to this particular casino, but the casinos in Bkk are not night-time establishments. It's 24hrs and counting. Pawn shops in the casino usually give a lower rate than the ones outside, so business is full blast from the ext. pawn shops open, and this goes on till they open again.

The cops who were supposed to raid might not be part of the group of owners, but they know that if they raid, the owners would arrange a new raid on THEIR extra curricular businesses. The result would be a total mess with different groups of cops, army, navy and politicians raiding each other. Utterly caos, and we can't have that, can we?

[arthurboy]

I think i have to point out here that the issue is a bit more complicated than what many people here assume.

The casino is owned by a very influential and wealthy Democrat Party family, surrounded by a slum and a neighborhood which is fiercely loyal to that family as the family has done a lot of good in the area and is supporting a lot of local welfare causes. This is one of the last traditional godfather style areas left in Bangkok. Local police is naturally depending financially on this casino, and has to somehow keep the balance of peace in the area as well. In addition to that - the casino is not a little run of the mill backstreet operation. It a place where people with money and influence go to gamble. It's also heavily fortified.

Over the years there have been many attempts to close the casino down, so far without any success.

Interesting comments, Nick.

So if the family is that influential and that wealthy, why would the police go through with this farce in the first place?

Were the police under pressure from another equally influential and powerful individual or group to take this token action to embarrass the present incumbent phu yai and his family?

Are other things afoot?

Wheels within wheels, as usual in Thailand.

[lemonjelly]

What I don't understand - if intentional, then why bother at all, and make yourself look stupid. Seems to me it is just sheer incompetence rather than some conspiracy.

Thai's equivalent to "Couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery" = "Couldn't find a gambler in a casino"

You ever laughed at a Thai policeman to his face?

I did better than that. At a highway checkpoint where I was being shaken down, in front of his subordinates, in Thai, I told the ranking policeman he was nothing more than the mafia stealing money from poor people, and that all the Thai people hated the police. For a couple of seconds, I was not sure if he was going to have a heart attack, or shoot me........ So see , not everyone is afraid of the police. :-)

Regarding this " raid", tough call between the appearance of incompetence or interrupting their casino income stream.

Comparable to condoning crossing a road without looking first because one managed to avoid being hit by traffic.

[nicknostitz]

Interesting comments, Nick.

So if the family is that influential and that wealthy, why would the police go through with this farce in the first place?

Were the police under pressure from another equally influential and powerful individual or group to take this token action to embarrass the present incumbent phu yai and his family?

Are other things afoot?

Wheels within wheels, as usual in Thailand.

I don't know if there was a particular reason this time, other than the usual - that casinos are illegal, and authorities have to do something, or at least appear to do something, about the problem that could be solved by regulating and legalizing the business, but can't because the religious right would throw tantrums.

After the last raid it was a very funny sight - the casino was closed down (supposedly), and police stood guard in front of the main entrance 24/7 (at least initially), while the other entrances down the road were conveniently ignored...

Edited June 27, 2013 by nicknostitz

[MikeOboe57]

The whole affair was nothing but a subtle reminder that the increase in monthly "tea money" donation was not negotiable.

[bigbamboo]

Am i missing something here ?

Search warrant expires at 7:30pm .

They where there at 07:00pm ?

What is the problem ?

Maybe their boss was on a roll?

[surangw]

do the get search warrants for the little gambling "dens" too ?

[atyclb]

Here fiction meets or exceeds reality.

[ableguy]

Am i missing something here ?

Search warrant expires at 7:30pm .

They where there at 07:00pm ?

What is the problem ?

They would not open the door too many, stand in line with the rest

[sydneyjed]

Am i missing something here ?

Search warrant expires at 7:30pm .

They where there at 07:00pm ?

What is the problem ?

At the entrance it took them too long to change to the required dress code

I know we always joke about these scenarios on here but this one just tops the lot...Most of local Bangkokians and half of Thailand knows that this is the illegal gambling den that Thai celebrities/identities and every hiso hangs out at if they want to have a bet!!!

[Thai at Heart]

What I don't understand - if intentional, then why bother at all, and make yourself look stupid. Seems to me it is just sheer incompetence rather than some conspiracy.

Thai's equivalent to "Couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery" = "Couldn't find a gambler in a casino"

You ever laughed at a Thai policeman to his face?

I did better than that. At a highway checkpoint where I was being shaken down, in front of his subordinates, in Thai, I told the ranking policeman he was nothing more than the mafia stealing money from poor people, and that all the Thai people hated the police. For a couple of seconds, I was not sure if he was going to have a heart attack, or shoot me........ So see , not everyone is afraid of the police. :-)

Regarding this " raid", tough call between the appearance of incompetence or interrupting their casino income stream.

I just ask for the radar man to come to the stop. Did you know that automated camera photos aren't addmisable in Thai court. Don't ever respond to a camera photo that lands in your house.

It's no better than a Nigerian internet scam. They send hoping you will pay.

[MaxYakov]

Interesting comments, Nick.

So if the family is that influential and that wealthy, why would the police go through with this farce in the first place?

Were the police under pressure from another equally influential and powerful individual or group to take this token action to embarrass the present incumbent phu yai and his family?

Are other things afoot?

Wheels within wheels, as usual in Thailand.

I don't know if there was a particular reason this time, other than the usual - that casinos are illegal, and authorities have to do something, or at least appear to do something, about the problem that could be solved by regulating and legalizing the business, but can't because the religious right would throw tantrums.

After the last raid it was a very funny sight - the casino was closed down (supposedly), and police stood guard in front of the main entrance 24/7 (at least initially), while the other entrances down the road were conveniently ignored...

Hmmm. This righteous rooftop raid?: http://ieng4u-reading.blogspot.com/2013/04/tao-poon-casino.html

Apparently, with this attempt they wanted to minimize their casualties (especially to face):

http://calvinayre.com/2013/04/08/casino/thai-gamblers-fight-back-against-bangkok-police-raid/

Edited June 27, 2013 by MaxYakov

[nicknostitz]

Hmmm. This righteous rooftop raid?: http://ieng4u-reading.blogspot.com/2013/04/tao-poon-casino.html

Yes.

[mikebell]

Am i missing something here ?

Search warrant expires at 7:30pm .

They where there at 07:00pm ?

What is the problem ?

Doorman wouldn't let them in as only half of the Keystone cops had brought their membership cards.

[PoodMaiDai]

Who's on first?

[arminbkk]

The funny thing is, apperently the Thai Police, thus Thais,

don't consider this a "loose face" situation, as it is covered

in the news. Whereas most foreigners would consider this

such a situation. Amazing Thailand/Thai way.

So there is a large scale illegal gambling operation going on,

at a permanent location, and all the police can say is

"we were too late". LOL

Edited June 28, 2013 by arminbkk

[deecee10]

As far as the cops are concerned it's either corruption at the highest level or incompetence at the highest level.

Take your pick: incompetence or corruption?

It's an even money shot?

Of course, it could be both. In which case it's not even a gamble.

[PEP]

There would be no problems with a "Search Warrent" at our small local village Casino even though there must be some local monied people enjoying a game of whist? Monthly "Hand Over" to the organisation we should not criticise is 45,000Baht. One wonders how many more Villagge Casinos are in the Pay Game? Never, never heard of a raid in our district in the last ten years.

With such a good income there is little need to stand at the roadside collecting those 100Baht donations so our loal traffic does as it wants with "The Law of the Road" with no fear of detection for those 'occassional. lapses.

[Bazt]

We go past the casino quite regularly , sometimes opposite on a vacant block they set up

tables and chairs like it's at fancy do in a hotel.

Wife says it's a charity thing the casino does for the locals a couple of times a year.

And the casino pours a lot of money into the area which is a bit of a slum.

[MobileContent]

Our casino next door, the BIB would even come at 7pm. They come once a month and pocket small money. If they are late due to bad business they will come the next day again. Have seeing those guys every month picking up their stash but then again this has been going on for the past 20 years in all locations I call my home in Thailand. Bangsue I know very well. Prachachuen Soi 9 had a famous casino many years back. The Bangsue police station has been making a fortune out of this Bangkok district for as long I can think of being in Bangkok.

[MobileContent]

There would be no problems with a "Search Warrent" at our small local village Casino even though there must be some local monied people enjoying a game of whist? Monthly "Hand Over" to the organisation we should not criticise is 45,000Baht. One wonders how many more Villagge Casinos are in the Pay Game? Never, never heard of a raid in our district in the last ten years.

With such a good income there is little need to stand at the roadside collecting those 100Baht donations so our loal traffic does as it wants with "The Law of the Road" with no fear of detection for those 'occassional. lapses.

In our small casino next door the price is 6,000 Baht per month

[ginjag]

Near every city-town and head village has this illegal activity going on-only the BIB can stop it at any time.

It is not stopped because?????---Thais know never mind ex pats.

All these search warrants are a load of cods, it is a time gap that is needed for all to flee the SCENE.

Edited June 28, 2013 by ginjag

[EyesWideOpen]

Where is this casino ?? I would like to stop by and try my luck...

Easier than a long drive to a border casino !!

[BigC]

They'll be back it is not a if a casino has wheels

[BigC]

Nas vagus

[BigC]

What are u talking about tea money the owner of the Casio. Was a copper he was supposed to arrest himself but was delayed what's wrong with that

[frankold]

The funny thing is, apperently the Thai Police, thus Thais,

don't consider this a "loose face" situation, as it is covered

in the news. Whereas most foreigners would consider this

such a situation. Amazing Thailand/Thai way.

So there is a large scale illegal gambling operation going on,

at a permanent location, and all the police can say is

"we were too late". LOL

You hit the nail on the head!