CHONBURI, Thailand – A joint operation by Chonburi Immigration Police and local Pattaya and Banglamung authorities dismantled an illegal poker gambling den in a residential village, arresting nine foreign nationals, including five Chinese and four South Koreans, on August 25, 2025.
The raid, which came after tips by concerned citizens about foreign vehicles blocking access to the neighborhood, led to the seizure of gambling equipment and assets valued at over 1 million baht.
The operation, conducted at 2:30 p.m., targeted a house in Soi Thung Klom-Tan Man 5/1. Acting under the command of Police Lieutenant General Phanumas Boonyalak, Commander of the Immigration Bureau, and other senior officers, the task force included personnel from Chonburi Immigration Office, Nongprue Police Station, and the Tourist Police.
Upon entering the property, officers discovered nine individuals engaged in a poker game. Authorities detained the group and confiscated evidence, including four poker tables, 60 decks of cards, nine mobile phones, a cash-counting machine, a large box of gambling chips, 150,360 baht in cash, and chips representing additional funds, totaling over 1 million baht in value.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the gambling operation had been running for approximately 10 days. Local residents confirmed that foreign vehicles had been blocking the alley almost daily, sometimes rendering the road impassable, prompting their complaints to authorities.
The suspects were handed over to Nongprue Police Station for prosecution on charges of illegally organizing and participating in poker gambling for profit. Additionally, Mr. Hao Tang, a 35-year-old Chinese national identified as the house lessee and key organizer, faces an extra charge for overstaying his visa by six days.
Authorities are continuing investigations to determine if others are involved in the gambling network. The Pattaya News notes that although Thailand is looking to allow poker for no gambling sports related competitions endorsed by the Tourism and Sports Authority, private games and gambling are still highly illegal in Thailand.
