British-led Card Room raided by officials in South Pattaya

[Woody1]

I am one of the bridgpplayers who was detained.

The charges of gambling have been dropped. There was no money involved.

There were no prizes.

The event is known as a "club duplicate pairs" and is played in small clubs all over the world.I will write more when I get home from the police station.

When you get home from the police station? Incredible that you even had to go there.

Are there small casinos in villages all over Thailand? some staying open all night, Why is this allowed to continue? I have heard stories of Thai women who are married to wealthy farangs losing millions and having to sell their land and home to pay the debts unbeknown to the poor guy. Maybe its all just local gossip.

Those casinos are over the borders (only a couple of hundred yards), and yes, I have known quite a few older boys loose a lot of money at the hands of their wives in this manner.

[farang95]

The informant was a farang or a thai ? how much he got for sharing this information ?

[johncat1]

Where is the usual photo opp with a bevy of police generals standing in the background, smiling, wearing

their Sunday's uniforms, in front of those hard core crimeless? .......

Don't forget the 50 or more pointy fingers too !!

[mydee]

Exactly what law did they break? In contract bridge each player is dealt 13 cards from a deck of 52. So at any one time it is impossible for an individual to possess more than 52 cards unless the person is the director of the event who has responsibility for any cards not in play.

Secondly Bridge is not a gambling game played for money. The Thailand Bridge League which has a role in running bridge in Thailand is a highly respected body which has organized international tournaments here in Thailand.

Many Thais play Bridge regularly and come from all levels of Thai Society, from royalty ( Kunyings and Moms through to struggling students) in fact the Thailand Bridge League's website in written in Thai. Playing bridge is not restricted to the criminal classes, in fact the difficulty in mastering the game precludes its popularity in the "Bangkok Hilton" and other penitentiaries.

The Thais and foreigners who play bridge are not criminals, as none have been found guilty of any misdemeanor as yet and even if they are found guilty of breaching this obscure statute which appears to have been intended to prevent gambling their crime would be somewhat less serious than a minor parking transgression.

As far as I am aware, none of those arrested would have known about this statutory provision and the Pattaya authorities seem to have been highly selective in its application.

I tend to agree with you about abiding with local laws, but local customs? Save me! I have no intention of entering the Sangha for six months, wearing a sarong or blue farmer's shirt here in Bangkok, nor will I be imbibing in rot gut until I am senseless all of which seem to be a customary among some Thais.

I haven't heard bridge players in Thailand, even British ones, overly whining about foreigners in their own countries refusing to conform to cultural norms. Perhaps people who drink red wine with fish, but that is understandable, even James Bond, himself another bridge player was appalled and shot the Russian who did that.

And where would you suggest the thousands of Thais who regularly enjoy bridge go?

Like chess, bridge is a fascinating and complex game based on contracts. It is played by people who wish to maintain or increase intelligence. Based on your post I would thoroughly recommend you take up the game.

This actually made the national TV news, even had the police video. A bunch of confused old folks playing Bridge.

Unclear what crime was committed, anyone know?

The offense relates to Section 8 of the Playing Cards Act of 1935 which states that an individual is not allowed to possess more than 120 playing cards at any one time. At the Bridge event, considerably more than 120 playing cards were found by officers.

I don't see the problem here except for the number of officers involved in the arrest. These people are criminals who broke the law. They knew they were committing a crime but obviously thought as affluent foreigners they were above the law or were too culturally insensitive to care. If you live in a country you should follow its laws and customs regardless of whether you agree with them or not. If you do not want to do that face the consequences or go somewhere else. I bet many of these would be the first to whine about foreigners in their on country flaunting the laws and refusing to conform to cultural norms.

[johncat1]

The informant was a farang or a thai ? how much he got for sharing this information ?

The informant was probably the owner of an illegal gambling syndicate who thought he was losing a very lucrative business involving Farang money.

[bazza40]

This actually made the national TV news, even had the police video. A bunch of confused old folks playing Bridge.

Unclear what crime was committed, anyone know?

The offense relates to Section 8 of the Playing Cards Act of 1935 which states that an individual is not allowed to possess more than 120 playing cards at any one time. At the Bridge event, considerably more than 120 playing cards were found by officers.

I don't see the problem here except for the number of officers involved in the arrest. These people are criminals who broke the law. They knew they were committing a crime but obviously thought as affluent foreigners they were above the law or were too culturally insensitive to care. If you live in a country you should follow its laws and customs regardless of whether you agree with them or not. If you do not want to do that face the consequences or go somewhere else. I bet many of these would be the first to whine about foreigners in their on country flaunting the laws and refusing to conform to cultural norms.

What absolute rubbish, Thais gamble with cards all the time. In my GF's village, she will come home gleeful after winning 20 baht. Like prostitution, it happens everywhere in Thailand despite being illegal.

Playing bridge is not even gambling unless it can be proved money is changing hands based on point scores.

Whoever is running the BiB in Pattaya should either get a transfer to Mae Hong Son or a brain transplant.

[rjcampbe]

Anyone else find it funny that for ONCE the police raided a card room and the organizers did NOT escape capture?

Pretty much says all that needs to be said.

[Shaunduhpostman]

I predict those who dare to take too much of an interest in sports on television will be next.

"He watch footbawn evyday! Too mutt footbawn! It's a gambling, shoo-ah! Why him watch evvyday then?

It too boring watch all the time you no gambling! Nobody do that!"

[Woody1]

Anyone else find it funny that for ONCE the police raided a card room and the organizers did NOT escape capture?

Pretty much says all that needs to be said.

Hardly going to do a runner (Zimmer) were they!!!

[dictater]

You can buy playing cards in 7/11

[harrry]

There is a bridge club running in Chiang Mai, has been going for years and was thinking of joining. Now glad I didn`t.

I suppose technically anywhere where there are groups of people playing cards on a regular basis, even if not for money but the fact that there are cards involved could be classified as a gambling house. In Thailand people that run and organise such events should take advice first, because in Thailand never take anything for granted and why I would not become involved with the running of clubs or groups here.

snitch.....they may not have known if you did not tell them

[Psychic]

There were posts here that lots of money was found, or at least that the tv stated so.

Apart from any restaurant receipts, that is clearly false.

Now that some "significant" people who run the Thailand Bridge League are involved, I will be fascinated to see how this is explained away.

And just as an aside, I seem to remember a local gambling den in Jomtien getting busted a few months back.

A fairly insignificant amount of money was confiscated. But to the best of my recollection everyone was fined100 or 200 baht and released.

How did this case end up being 5000B bail after 12 hours in a police station and a court date when there was not even any gambling and they had to dig up a law about holding too many cards?

Amazing really.

[Basil B]

There were posts here that lots of money was found, or at least that the tv stated so.

Apart from any restaurant receipts, that is clearly false.

Now that some "significant" people who run the Thailand Bridge League are involved, I will be fascinated to see how this is explained away.

And just as an aside, I seem to remember a local gambling den in Jomtien getting busted a few months back.

A fairly insignificant amount of money was confiscated. But to the best of my recollection everyone was fined100 or 200 baht and released.

How did this case end up being 5000B bail after 12 hours in a police station and a court date when there was not even any gambling and they had to dig up a law about holding too many cards?

Amazing really.

They should stick to playing monopoly... at lest a few lucky players may have a "Get Out Of Jail" card.

[khwaibah]

[KKr]

32 people playing and each owned more than 120 cards ?
Government seals on Card Boxes ?
Glad the Police finally cleaned up the last law offenders in Pattaya.

Of course all other offenders in the area must already have been caught and put behind bars if they waste their valuable time on a bunch of people playing "Bridge".

[mankondang]

Were there known associates of the Kray brothers involved ?

[SolarGolf]

There's an article on the Bangkok Post website with a video of the incident. Took everyone away on baht buses, even the poor woman with the walking stick!

[phazey]

[buythisdashcam]

So lucky to live in clowns land <3

[Basil B]

It would make my day if the DSI were to raid Soi9 Cop Shop and caught them skivvying in a back room playing cards ...with the tea money.

[sawadee1947]

probably the informant lost a lot of money....

[BrainLife]

And just as an aside, I seem to remember a local gambling den in Jomtien getting busted a few months back.

A fairly insignificant amount of money was confiscated. But to the best of my recollection everyone was fined100 or 200 baht and released.

How did this case end up being 5000B bail after 12 hours in a police station and a court date when there was not even any gambling and they had to dig up a law about holding too many cards?

Amazing really.

Don't ask questions, you know the answer to already, .... FARANG money 5000baht (x32=160.000baht)

It seems all charges are already dropped and no court.

Wonder if they will get their 5000baht returned and a (monetary) apology?

[mickyboy]

i did not realise it was a muslim country and islamic state

[Arkady]

I don't suppose they will dare raid the Bridge Section at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. They would get instant transfers to Nakhon Nowhere, if they hauled off a bunch of khunyings and retired police generals' wives from there.

[Basil B]

Wot!!!! no climb down yet???

No Apology?

No Transfer to inactive post?

No it was a mistake?

[gandalf12]

http://news.sky.com/story/1635731/britons-arrested-as-army-raids-bridge-club

[petedk]

I haven't flown Thai Airways for a while, but when I did (regularly) when flying into BKK I always asked the hostess for a pack of cards which they supply free. Buying cards in Thailand is very costly. On arrival I would simply put them in my pocket and go through customs. I now realise that technically I was breaking the law.

You beat me to it.

I have 5 or 6 packs of cards from Thai Airways.

I had better ditch them in Klong Saen Saeb now.

[sambum]

This actually made the national TV news, even had the police video. A bunch of confused old folks playing Bridge.

Unclear what crime was committed, anyone know?

The offense relates to Section 8 of the Playing Cards Act of 1935 which states that an individual is not allowed to possess more than 120 playing cards at any one time. At the Bridge event, considerably more than 120 playing cards were found by officers.

Unbelievable! The Bridge Club does not consist of an individual!

[harrycallahan]

You could play cards with something other than cards. Actually they could all sit there with smartphones and play each other over the internet. Do 120 virtual cards count?

[arunsakda]

Exactly, like Checkers is played with bottle caps.