PATTAYA — What started as a routine investigation into neighbor complaints about illegal parking and littering led to the arrest of nine foreign nationals running a high-stakes poker operation worth approximately one million baht ($30,775) in East Pattaya.
Chonburi Immigration officers and tourist police raided a single-story house with a swimming pool on a 50-square-wa plot in Soi Thung Klom-Tal Man 5/1, Moo 9, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District on August 26, following local residents’ complaints about foreigners blocking traffic with parked cars and dumping trash in the area.
Suspects Attempt to Flee
During the search, foreign nationals inside the house attempted to flee but were detained. The nine suspects included five Chinese men, three Korean men, and one Korean woman.
Police discovered the reason for their escape attempt when they found multiple poker tables, large amounts of Thai cash, gambling chips worth approximately one million baht ($30,775), several card decks, and money-counting machines inside the residence. All evidence was seized before the suspects were taken to Chonburi Immigration Office for questioning.
Confessions and Charges
During interrogation, three suspects confessed to organizing the illegal gambling operation: Chinese national Tang (35), Korean national Lee (35), and Korean national Kim (31). They admitted to jointly hosting and operating the poker gambling ring.
The trio faces charges of “jointly organizing illegal gambling for property.” Tang received an additional charge for “being a foreigner residing in the Kingdom after his permission expired.”
The remaining six suspects were charged with “jointly participating in illegal gambling for property” and transferred to Nong Prue Police Station investigators.
Poker Remains Illegal
Despite Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai’s July 30, 2025 announcement that he had signed an order repealing a 1958 Interior Ministry directive—potentially paving the way for legislative changes to decriminalize poker—gambling with poker remains illegal in Thailand. The government’s goal is to transform poker into a sport, but current laws still prohibit poker gambling.
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