An illegal gambling hub with chips and cash worth more than Baht 2m ($0.06m), which had been running for almost a year, was found and closed by local authorities.
The secret gambling den included several gambling options, including online gambling and gambling equipment.
What’s more, people were transported there by taxis, vans, and minibusses.
The operation was carried out under the supervision of Thailand’s Minister of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister, who ordered a team of professionals to crack the illegal gambling spot.
It all took place in the Thai province of Nakhon Nayok in the middle of a rice field, like in the movies. The uncovered gambling den had more than 200 gamblers present during the operation.
Interestingly, only a month ago, the Thailand Cabinet approved a new bill meant to legalize land-based casino gambling venues.
Around the same time, the Ministry of Interior Ombudsman Center and the Provincial Ombudsman Center received a complaint regarding the illegal gambling spot in Nakhon Nayok. It was supposedly open 24 hours a day for potential gamblers, who were conveniently transported there.
It’s no secret for experts in the field like me who know that Thailand has a reputation for illegal gambling activities. Even if the authorities do their best to fight this problem, illegal casinos and gamblers seem to slip through their fingers.
Although, this one seems to be a successful operation for the local authorities, who knows how many other illegal gambling dens are out there in Thailand, and not only, if we’re still speaking of.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the Minister of Interior, one of the key figures in this operation, stated the following: “The duty of the Ministry of Interior is to focus on social order to create a peaceful society, an orderly country, and to let go of vices and ensure the safety of people.”
The Thai Ministry of Interior strongly believes that anything that goes against these plans should be eliminated completely by the state mechanism.
The carried-out arrest seems to only be the beginning of many other operations alike till Thai authorities manage to eliminate the problem from the core. Will they manage, though? With so many illegal gambling places that we don’t even know about. Time will show us.
In the meanwhile, this arrest news comes at a time when polls already show that most people in Thailand are against online gambling and casino legalization, opposing any validation of such activities. So, who are the ones responsible for illegal gambling?
It’s not only about the people who set up all this illegal biz but also the ones who take part in this by engaging in unauthorized gambling activities.
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