Play in private, do not gamble for money, use match sticks. No problem...

In my wife's village they used to play cards day and night with money on the table. The BIB Tea Money was small baht and the games were  daily social event with good companionship, lots of laughter and  food.  The local BIN who took the payoff would let the family know when the BIGGER BIB were coming so they could hide the cards while all the women disappeared quick as you like, Now, the military presence in the village, no longer BIB has put fear of time in the monkey house in the locals and cards playing has ceased indoors and out.

 

I agree there is no sense to such a law. I think it clearly states that you cannot have several decks of cards which are not licensed.

 

Playing Cards Act BE 2486

 

Section 8. No person shall possess more than one hundred and twenty playing cards or sell playing cards irrespective of their quantity, unless those
playing cards have been produced by, or have been stamped with the seal of, the Excise Department.

 

Section 14 bis. Whoever violates section 6, section 8 or section 9 shall be liable to imprisonment for a term of not exceeding three years or to a fine in an amount of four times of the price of the playing cards of the same kind sold by the Excise Department but not less than five hundred Baht or to both.

 

I came through customs one with a box of playing cards from a mate who is the manager of a casino. 12 packs in total and they did look at them but said nothing.

 

I was caught playing poker in a bar once with lots of chips(good quality) on the table. They took us away, realized we weren't gullible tourists and let us off, even coming back to the bar and drinking with us until 2 am.

 

The police really only care if you encroach on their business. My next door neighbour is a croupier in a casino that changes location every couple of weeks in Khon Kaen. On my soi, there are two betting shops. There is horse racing every Sunday. Lottery, need I go on? There are many laws which are not enforced like prostitution and gambling. Some people get overly paranoid about gambling.

 

 

My local mini-tesco lotus store has two versions: normal pack 130฿ or so and a gold lined pack about iirc 620฿. Both have the tax strip so I would take it legal to sell.

I doubt people will buy the expensive one to play for matchsticks!

Just sayin'!

Every Thai funeral I have been to has card gambling at it. I an unsure if the funeral is  cover for the gambling or if it is away of saying life is gamble and money is secondary to our life. However Thais are very superstitious and the noise is supposed to drive the dead spirit away. 

On the subject, does anyone understand the Thai card game 'gow gair'?

I tried to understand it, but never got it.

Visiting Thailand at Songkran this year and PokerStars, the worlds biggest poker online site, had a message up telling me I was in Thailand and therefore couldn't access and play my account, but it had been fine the year before. Came back in July and tried again and there was no problem. Also noticed players at tables with their country tagged as Thailand now. 

.

Re the Ladbrokes thing, I suspect that gambling on horses, football matches etc is blocked as classed as pure gambling, but poker due to its (small) skill level gets classed differently. 

op

 

my suggestion play at home revolving game like you would have back home.  Cheaper and you do not have to worry

They must be illegal.

 

I put them in my spokes, and the policeman took my bicycle!

Visiting Thailand at Songkran this year and PokerStars, the worlds biggest poker online site, had a message up telling me I was in Thailand and therefore couldn't access and play my account, but it had been fine the year before. Came back in July and tried again and there was no problem. Also noticed players at tables with their country tagged as Thailand now. 

.

Re the Ladbrokes thing, I suspect that gambling on horses, football matches etc is blocked as classed as pure gambling, but poker due to its (small) skill level gets classed differently. 

 All you have to do is write to them and explain you have changed country.

They are a very professional outfit and know they have many valuable customers in Thailand.  http://www.pocketfives.com/articles/who-top-online-poker-players-thailand-588673/

 

Online Poker is gambling and legal because the bet is taking place in another country, nothing to do with skill level.

Slightly off topic but are dice legal or illegal?  Can you buy them here?

I'm not sure if it still meets but there used be a bridge club in Pattaya that openly advertised for new players. Should be no problem so long as you are not gambling.

I'm not sure if it still meets but there used be a bridge club in Pattaya that openly advertised for new players. Should be no problem so long as you are not gambling.

 

maybe it is that police on normal Thais automatically think it is gambling.

While on the bridge club with important people it is different.

Available at every 7/11 but you have to ask.

Available at every 7/11 but you have to ask.

Well they're not mind-readers.

 

You can point to them.

On the subject, does anyone understand the Thai card game 'gow gair'?

I tried to understand it, but never got it.

No but Pok Daeng I know

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok_Deng

Neeranam just because you keep repeating over and over again that online gambling is legal in Thailand does not make it true. Maybe you should visit the "Ask a Lawyer" sub forum...

What about strip poker, is it legal?

 

Well....is there money involved ?         

 

hee hee, the Uno is about to start.  My eldest is saying 20 baht to the winner -  where on earth does she get that from? I'd better say no as I don't want us going to jail.

I don't like to boast, but I'm 1 of the best Uno players going round.

 

 

How much you bet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are bridge clubs with websites for information on their schedules in both hua hin and pattaya. I think there was a club in phuket as well.

http://huahinbridgeclub.com

http://www.pattayabridge.com

I think there is/was a fairly well known bridge player from Australia (?) who plays at the pattaya club.

Edited August 12, 201412 yr by utkb

Neeranam just because you keep repeating over and over again that online gambling is legal in Thailand does not make it true. Maybe you should visit the "Ask a Lawyer" sub forum...

No need, I've already asked a few.

They more than likely told you what you wanted to hear to save face.

Try it this way next time, tell them there is a nosy neighbor who has made disparaging comments about sum tum and tell them that he plays online poker and whether that is illegal or not?

 

Or better yet just link us to that the Thai statue that exempts online poker/sports betting on servers located outside of Thailand.