East Pattaya Police Raid Nabs 12 for Gambling

Nine women and three men were apprehended during a police raid at a residence in east Pattaya.

In Banglamung, Thailand, authorities conducted the operation on Friday (July 5) at a house located in Huay Yai Sub-district, east Pattaya, resulting in the arrest of 12 individuals suspected of engaging in illegal gambling. Weekit Manarotkit, the Banglamung district chief, stated that the police had received prior intelligence. The operation involved over 40 administrative officers who surrounded the large house situated near the railway tracks.

According to Pattaya Mail, law enforcement officers discovered two groups of six gamblers in separate rooms, consisting mostly of elderly individuals. Seized items included paper playing cards, card tables, poker cards, card-pushing sticks, and cash. Records indicated that the gambling activities had been ongoing for 30 days, with alleged payments made to unidentified police units ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 baht. The arrested individuals were transported to the Banglamung District Office for further processing.

In related news, Lau Kok Keng highlighted the significant hurdles facing the establishment of casinos in Thailand, particularly concerning the regulatory framework.

Thailand’s Ministry of Finance announced in June that the final draft of a bill to legalize entertainment complexes with casinos is nearing completion and will undergo cabinet review within three to four weeks. Input from sixteen government agencies, initially drafted by a special House committee, will be incorporated into supplementary documents accompanying the proposal. Should it receive cabinet approval, the bill will proceed to the Office of the Council of State for additional review before being presented to the House of Representatives.

Original Story by: FocusAsiaPacific