Banglamung- Local Government officials led by Mr. Weekit Manarojkit, Banglamung District Chief, successfully raided an illegal gambling den operating under the name “Tong Card Casino.” The crackdown took place at a house in Village Number 7 in the Huai Yai Subdistrict on the evening of July 5th, 2024.
The den, which had been openly flouting the law, was discovered following a tip-off from a concerned citizen afraid of gambling causing problems in the community. The Banglamung Permanent Secretary for Security ordered the raid, leading to the arrest of 12 gamblers.
Upon entering the large house, situated on an area of more than two rai near the railroad tracks, officers found two separate card circles. Each circle consisted of six players—nine women and three men in total—engaged in lively card games. The gamblers, unaware of their imminent arrest, were caught off guard.
Seized items included paper playing cards, a table for playing cards, pok deng cards, a card picker, and an undisclosed sum of cash. Notably, a note allegedly paying tribute to unidentified police officers was also discovered. The casino had been in operation for 30 days, with ongoing payments for utilities such as water and electricity.
However, the most shocking revelation was the money detailed on the note allegedly paid to police officers to allow the casino to operate—ranging from 3,000 to 7,000 baht—which was meticulously documented as evidence.
Despite the gamblers’ attempts to escape, the officers successfully apprehended all individuals involved. Ms. Amporn Thamjinda, aged 63, was identified as the owner of the casino. Authorities are now gathering evidence to proceed with legal action against those responsible.
The seized items and evidence will be presented at the Banglamung District Office as the case unfolds. Banglamung officials are also planning to investigate to determine if the note detailing payments to police was legitimate and who the suspects specifically were paying.
Gambling is illegal in Thailand, with some of the most stringent anti gambling laws in the world.
