Authorities say such illegal dens are frequently operating behind closed doors and evading regulatory oversight, prompting stepped-up enforcement under Thailand’s Gambling Act.
This operation comes amid a broader national drive to suppress both offline and online gambling activities. In one major case earlier this year, a massive illegal gambling venue in Bangkok’s Don Muang district was dismantled after weeks of surveillance, netting over 200 arrests and exposing a sprawling network reportedly generating hundreds of millions of baht in unregulated revenue.
Meanwhile, in the Gulf of Thailand island of Koh Phangan, tourist police recently arrested 10 foreign nationals during a raid on an illegal poker game at a rental house. Authorities seized more than 130,000 baht in cash and gambling paraphernalia, underscoring the ongoing challenge posed by underground gaming events.
Officials emphasize that all forms of gambling — except officially sanctioned lotteries and certain regulated races — remain illegal in Thailand, with stiff penalties for both organizers and participants. The government has also intensified efforts against online gambling syndicates, blocking thousands of illegal betting websites and targeting cybercrime rings suspected of laundering proceeds through financial networks.
“The arrests and seizures we have made demonstrate our commitment to enforcing the law and protecting the public — especially vulnerable communities affected by the social harms of gambling,” said a spokesperson from the Royal Thai Police.
Legal proceedings are underway for all those detained in the latest round of raids, with authorities pledging continued operations against illegal gambling activities nationwide.