Double-down drama: DOPA crackdown sees 200 gamblers dealt a losing hand in southern Thailand

Officers from the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) yesterday swooped on a gambling den in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat and arrested 200 gamblers.

Residents in Nakhon Si Thammarat submitted a complaint about the gambling house to the Deputy Interior Minister, Chada Thaiseth. They reported that the gambling den was open 24 hours a day. More than 200 gamblers visited the place daily and more than 100 vehicles were seen in the car park.

Locals added that the venue had been offering gambling games for a long time and was well known among residents in the area. However, no relevant authorities took action on the matter. Chada handed the case over to the DOPA.

The authorities dispatched a spy to the location and found that the gambling house was operating in a building resembling a gymnasium, surrounded by a wall over 2.5 metres high.

The venue had more than 10 entrances and exits. Guards at each entrance would instruct gamblers to escape through concealed exits if the authorities arrived.

The gambling house was equipped with air conditioning, convenience stores and restaurants. It was capable of serving more than 200 gamblers per day and offered various types of gambling games.

Following concrete evidence of the operation of the gambling house, officers raided the place yesterday, January 11, and arrested 200 gamblers. Officers confiscated gambling equipment and cash but did not disclose the amount of money they took. According to ThaiRath, the cash amounted to around 280,000 baht.

Each gambler faces a charge of gambling without a licence. The charge carries a jail term of three months to three years, a fine of 500 to 5,000 baht, or both. There was no report on the owner of the gambling house or the land on which it was located.

Two other gambling den raids were reported in December last year. The Nonthaburi gambling den was hidden in a well-known hotel in the province. Officers arrested 49 suspects, including employees and gamblers, during the raid and seized more than 3.5 million baht in cash.

Another gambling den in Bangkok was hidden in an abandoned futsal stadium in the Don Mueang district. Officers arrested 63 gamblers and staff during the raid, but the owner managed to evade arrest.