The chips are down for Bangkok’s notorious Tao Pun casino

[Jonathan Fairfield]

The chips are down for Bangkok’s notorious Tao Pun casino

pic: The Nation

Illegal casino to be turned into police station

BANGKOK:-- One of Bangkok’s most infamous illegal casinos could be turned into a police station, according to plans announced by officials from the Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO).

The notorious Tao Pun gambling house, which is located in the Bang Sue area of Bangkok, was raided and subsequently closed down by police last week.

However, this wasn’t the first time the casino had been shut down, with police fighting a constant battle with illegal gamblers who regularly re-enter the casino to continue their gambling activities shortly after police raid the premises.

In order to stop illegal gamblers returning once and for all, Pol Col Seehant Prayoonrat has announced plans to redevelop the premises as a police substation and public service centre.

The illegal Tao Pun casino is housed in a three storey building on Soi Khao San alley and measures 1,000sqm.

The Bangkok Post reports that police have so far failed to arrest anyone involved in illegal gambling at Tao Pun, despite raiding it on four previous occasions.

The newspaper also reports that the property which houses the Tao Pun casino belongs to an “influential figure”, although the title deeds list the owner of the property to be a street food vendor.

-- 2014-03-02

[Baa_Mango]

well - this makes sense as the police already run it.

[NongKhaiKid]

Oh the irony

[Costas2008]

Brilliant idea!

Who would think now of raiding a police station running as a casino at the back?

Eat your hearts out army......we know how to play the game better than you.

[Guest]

Riddle: Name a place where people walk in hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and always leave with empty pockets.

Yes, you guessed it.

[clockman]

Belongs to somebody, even the Army cannot touch! Nothing changes. Feudal third world country.

[RogueLeader]

"The Bangkok Post reports that police have so far failed to arrest anyone involved in illegal gambling at Tao Pun, despite raiding it on four previous occasions."

I'm shocked by the gambling that's going on in here.

Edited March 2, 2015 by RogueLeader

[Lupatria]

The Bangkok Post reports that police have so far failed to arrest anyone involved in illegal gambling at Tao Pun, despite raiding it on four previous occasions.

No place for inactive croupiers found in the country?

[alant]

[elgordo38]

"The Bangkok Post reports that police have so far failed to arrest anyone involved in illegal gambling at Tao Pun, despite raiding it on four previous occasions."

I'm shocked by the gambling that's going on in here.

E for effort F for failure. How can you rain a gambling den 4 times and not arrest anyone?

[realenglish1]

I have a novel Idea. Why not just legalize gambling and open some casinos in Thailand

All the tourist areas sans Bangkok. It will generate tremendous revenue for Thailand. I know

There are those who argue that locals will get hooked on gambling but you know they are already gambling either

on line or with illegal forms of gaming in the country. So bring it under control and that way you can also control gamblers

Bar the ones that are having problems from the casinos.

I think this is a win win for everyone. Have tax revenues to go to real causes that need to be looked after

[Gunna]

I have a novel Idea. Why not just legalize gambling and open some casinos in Thailand

All the tourist areas sans Bangkok. It will generate tremendous revenue for Thailand. I know

There are those who argue that locals will get hooked on gambling but you know they are already gambling either

on line or with illegal forms of gaming in the country. So bring it under control and that way you can also control gamblers

Bar the ones that are having problems from the casinos.

I think this is a win win for everyone. Have tax revenues to go to real causes that need to be looked after

A good idea in theory

But the Government have to raise the salaries of many Police, Politicians and Army who generate huge income from either owning the Casinos or being paid to turn a blind eye. Plus there are many "People of influence and Power" who can't be touched who are involved in the operation of Casinos.

All the Army has to do is ask any Bangkok Taxi driver and they all know where the Casinos are, and who runs them.

My Thai ex used to go to one off Petchburi Road ( Soi 7 from memory ) and she said it would never be raided as it was owned by some-one who was untouchable.

So not likely to have Government run Casinos any time soon.

[Cuchulainn]

One of Bangkok’s police stations could be turned into a most infamous illegal casino

More like it, eh playmates?

[Equalizer]

And the ''National'' Lottery? The game that puts the ''G'' in gambling. What a completely hypocritical country. How can a country with illegal gambling possibly have a national lottery? The mind boggles.

[NextStationBangkok]

All soapy massage parlors to be converted as "Woman Police Station", be careful before you check-in!

Otherwise happy ending will become sad ending....

[glasswort]

I have a novel Idea. Why not just legalize gambling and open some casinos in Thailand

All the tourist areas sans Bangkok. It will generate tremendous revenue for Thailand. I know

There are those who argue that locals will get hooked on gambling but you know they are already gambling either

on line or with illegal forms of gaming in the country. So bring it under control and that way you can also control gamblers

Bar the ones that are having problems from the casinos.

I think this is a win win for everyone. Have tax revenues to go to real causes that need to be looked after

Nice thought but even if gambling was to become legal in Thailand, illegal establishments will remain because the well off owners will not want to pay tax. As it is the authorities cannot cope with tax avoidance by all the legal entities currently operating in Thailand.

[mango66]

very simple why they could not arrest any customer there,

when they raided,

their friends of RTP where there already,

so why to ride ??

And the Big boss of the RTP station had everything under control !! 5555555555555555

( I mean in the gambling activity !! )

[mango66]

I can see the ladder from the ceiling,

so police rided trough the ceiling for.

a) to surprice the gambles,

to leave the doors free so that they could escape in any case of fire !! 555555555555555555555555555555555

Thailand !!

By the way : Illigal is when the RTP is not informed and not involved !

This doesn't happen in LOS !!

RTP is always active to have everything under their control !!

[klauskunkel]

The newspaper also reports that the property which houses the Tao Pun casino belongs to an “influential figure”, although the title deeds list the owner of the property to be a street food vendor.

...street food vendor, what's he selling?...Fish 'n Chips?

[ozyjon]

Many more petty crimes will be comitted

just to be arrested, i can just see it now.

''Hey sergeant Nit, Noy is annoying me

can you come over and arrest me please

and oh, put me in for say 3 days, thanks''

[mango66]

I have a novel Idea. Why not just legalize gambling and open some casinos in Thailand

All the tourist areas sans Bangkok. It will generate tremendous revenue for Thailand. I know

There are those who argue that locals will get hooked on gambling but you know they are already gambling either

on line or with illegal forms of gaming in the country. So bring it under control and that way you can also control gamblers

Bar the ones that are having problems from the casinos.

I think this is a win win for everyone. Have tax revenues to go to real causes that need to be looked after

they would allow to open public casinos,

But the illigal one is much more efficient,

as profit goes without tax direct to the pocket and not over a selary to the officer or polits !!

so why waste time and money ??

[Torrens54]

Same,same!

[Godders]

Well, lots of banks int he West turned into casinos . ..

[wabothai]

They won't have to move their office.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

so business as usual then?

[sambum]

The Bangkok Post reports that police have so far failed to arrest anyone involved in illegal gambling at Tao Pun, despite raiding it on four previous occasions.

Did the raiding parties have a winning streak?

[mathias67]

well - this makes sense as the police already run it.

Strange how after 4 raids they have been unable to make an arrest. Guess you can't arrest one of your own

[arrowsdawdle]

Oh the irony

Ironing...they do shirts there, too?

[Billy The Kid]

What goes around comes around ...

[Acharn]

I have a novel Idea. Why not just legalize gambling and open some casinos in Thailand

All the tourist areas sans Bangkok. It will generate tremendous revenue for Thailand. I know

There are those who argue that locals will get hooked on gambling but you know they are already gambling either

on line or with illegal forms of gaming in the country. So bring it under control and that way you can also control gamblers

Bar the ones that are having problems from the casinos.

I think this is a win win for everyone. Have tax revenues to go to real causes that need to be looked after

Clearly you miss the point. The laws against gambling are always requested by the police. Their purpose is to increase the police's income. See New York when off-track horse-race betting was illegal. The Police Chief's office had a special unit of detectives to collect the payments from bookie joints (illegal gambling parlors). Upcountry the laws are used to arrest housewives playing cards with friends at home. If you make gamblink legal the police would have to live on their salaries. See also, War On Drugs, U.S.