Thai police arrested 49 people last month in the raid of an illegal casino in Nonthaburi Province, northwest of Bangkok. They seized cash of about THB3.5 million baht (US$100,500) in the bust, according to the Bangkok Post.
Police also seized six baccarat tables, six slot machines, casino chips and about 100 decks of cards, and detained 26 Chinese gamblers as well as 23 Thai workers.
The casino was based on the eighth and ninth floors of a hotel, in a space that had been leased by the operators, with access possible only through keycards. Local media reported that police inspected the premises within weeks of the raid and discovered no casino at that time.
National Police Chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has reportedly ordered deputies to “investigate the case thoroughly,” both to identify the casino owner and determine if police aided in the covert operation.
Meanwhile, Thailand is currently considering legalizing casinos in the kingdom. As reported by Inside Asian Gaming, in October the House of Representatives established a new 60-member committee to study the feasibility of a legal industry. The committee was given 90 days to make its recommendations.
Another report, filed with the National Assembly in July 2022, recommended that the government sanction a number of “entertainment complexes” in up to five locations nationwide, with Bangkok and Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor the most suitable locations.
The report called for gaming to occupy no more than 5 percent of the total floor space, with the balance to feature non-gaming attractions such as luxury hotels, retail corridors, spas, theme parks, zoos and sports stadiums.
Entry would be limited to foreigners and locals 21 years of age and older. Thai gamblers would need to show proof of income and demonstrate a positive account balance of at least THB500,000 (US$15,000) over the previous six months.
Thai punters must now cross the borders to gamble legally; Cambodia’s casino industry relies mostly on Thai patrons.
