i can never read these "illegal gambling" stories, as my mind tries to connect the logic of it all. gambling, police, photographs of the perps, television coverage, newspaper coverage, smirks of job well done... it's disgusting. what with all the other problems in the world (or this country). or hell, i can think of SEVERAL other illegal things, much more illegal (against the law) that go unnoticed. unnoticed. the key word here. sad really.

If you don't have piles of cash on the table, you might actually have a defence of "Not Gambling".

Looks to me that they were set up by someone.

If that is true, there would be nothing you could do - except perhaps make a huge donation to the BiB to make it all go away, and you´s have to hope that whoever dobbed you in.didn´t have too strong a grip on the BiB.

Where was the Cockatoo?

usually in the ladyboy bars, there you will see a cockatoo

At first I thought this was a very pathetic raid by the Thai cops but it does look like it was a "for-profit" enterprise so very risky behaviour for the organiser.

How many underground Thai gambling dens are there ? double standards if you ask me.

Know when to hold 'em know when to fold them....

Gamblers, try the cockfighting in the Philippines. Try the

derbies and your bet will be matched. It is open to anyone.

Are you telling me in that 2 floors casino/house there we're just 7 gamblers and all of them foreigner? Either the locals were afraid to play with them or it wasn't a permanent casino.

Anyway it's pathetic. Everybody (police included) knows there are a lot of gambling going on and the only reason why they can operate is because of tea money. Also, there are so many important problems/crimes which should have priority over this stupidity... Could start with corruption lol

I'm wondering if there were any other people (Thais) arrested in this illegal casino apart from the 9 foreigners? The way this story was reported resembles the racist western attitudes of the 19th century towards Chinese immigrants, namely all crime is the fault of the foreigners.

But it's really no surprise to the rest of the world that Thailand is 120 years behind modern thinking.

Lol, Gambling is number one in Udon. I think we hold National Title. Common sense probably dictates going through the "proper channels" if you need to set up a table.

If you don't have piles of cash on the table, you might actually have a defence of "Not Gambling".

50 baht with cards on the table gets you arrested

One post removed:

8) Not to post extremely negative views of Thailand or derogatory comments directed towards all Thais.

Gambling is part of Thai village life and the police collect their tea money and it goes on.

In the village I have been staying in recently, the head of the Or Bor Tor runs the underground lottery, the local Puuyai has the card schools (with these funny little Chinese cards that I don't understand) and yesterday the GF's family won a lot of money from a 200,000 baht bet on the result of the local election, won by the guy mentioned above who can now continue to control the underground lottery. Incidentally he makes enough money from that so he doesn't need to siphon money from the budgets and for that reason is a good politician for the village.

I am sure this is the same throughout Thailand, provided the right people get their payoff.

And that is where a farang gambling arena fails.

This was a fairly organised table - dealer and a proper felt poker table isn't exactly a 'mates' operation. There's plenty of illegal games going on in the los - I've seen other pros come through Thailand before and they're not here for the beaches and elephant treks.

"Police were able to earlier infiltrate the casino which allowed invited players to play poker for money"

Infiltrate it earlier? Im guessing someone was mad because the house won?

Dear Pattaya Police, please join me to Samut Prakarn where approx. 18 police officers play poker every day after work. For years.........

Not sure a meeting of a few gamblers, even regularly... can be called Casino?

Not sure a meeting of a few gamblers, even regularly... can be called Casino?

Disgraceful foreigners bringing the evil gambling habit to Thailand. Well done BiB. Fine'em, deport'em and blacklist'em.

Now, let's get down to tackling the other evil farangs who bring drugs, boozing to extreme, whoring and scamming habits.

Actually, why would professional poker players come to Thailand, set up a friendly although illegal game and bring in professional croupiers from Cambodia? All a bit odd. Why not all just go to a casino in Cambodia and have a good time?

Typical bust farangs, but let locals go. If these are professionals, the amount of money sounds right. I wonder why they weren't also hit with a "no work permit" charge..... as for casino, anybody know of a casino that only has 7 players?

Didn' they know the cops don't like foreign competition?

Just as long as its their own money, who gives a stuff. Buying a second hand car in Thailand is gambling ! what you do with your own cash is your own business in my book ! Although i am not a gambler.

Police do not only arrest foreigners for gambling.

It's just that we seldom read about it when it involves Thais.

Wonderfull thing about gambling, is every culture has a game.

You know the rules You know the Law, Just don't do it ,,,If you do, you will get caught only a matter of time,,,,. There is always someone jealous or loses some money and that is the beginning of the end.

Anyone who watches local TV will know full well that the police often arrest Thais for gambling. Usually for playing hi-lo in large organised groups, but sometimes just a few blokes in front of a 7/11 playing drafts or whatever.

Police do not only arrest foreigners for gambling.

It's just that we seldom read about it when it involves Thais.

Six members of my Thai family were busted for gambling at someone's house here in Pattaya; ended up each paying a 500 baht fine.

Absolute morons. Nice detective work arresting a couple of poker players having a private game of poker.

OMG did the bad farangs have bank accounts? Holy crap call the pope..

Hey up what if , there was no money on the table, only chips , , can they still be prosecuted

Absolute morons. Nice detective work arresting a couple of poker players having a private game of poker.

OMG did the bad farangs have bank accounts? Holy crap call the pope..

I called, he said not to disturb him unless they're playing strip poker. Then, he wants to see photo evidence before taking matters into his own hands.

I don’t understand the gambling phobia here. Not that this was anything like a casino but there are legitimate casinos all over the world, what’s the big deal? Seems to me Pattaya would be the perfect place for that type of business and the money they generate is absolutely staggering!