13 arrested in Bangkok Police raid on Chinese gambling den
As many as 13 people were arrested when police raided an illegal Chinese gambling den in Bangkok’s Yannawa district on 14 February 2025. The establishment was operating under the guise of a Chinese restaurant.
Police from Bang Phong Phang station conducted the raid following a tip-off that revealed the building housed a restaurant on the first floor and a poker den on the third floor. Over 20 gamblers were found on the third floor, but 12 were arrested—10 men and two women. The police also arrested a Thai woman who was the building’s caretaker.
Among those detained, eight were Chinese nationals, two were from Singapore, and one each from the Philippines and India. One Singaporean was found to have overstayed their visa.
Police confiscated a total of 319,400 baht ($3,538), 5,308 Singaporean dollars ($3,800), 7,035 Chinese yuan ($933), 12,074 Hong Kong dollars ($1,502), 100 euros ($97) and 70 Macanese patacas ($9), along with two bags of cash chips worth 5.98 million baht ($66,235). Other seized items included 10 card decks, a poker table, nine chairs, 15 telephones, and 45 bottles of illegally imported liquor.
A foreign gambler told police his friend had invited him and was unaware that gambling was illegal in Thailand. He mentioned that he regularly gambled abroad, particularly in Singapore.
The Thai building caretaker stated she had been hired by a Chinese employer and had worked there for a year.
Police initially charged the gamblers for playing without permission, while the Thai national was charged with organising the gambling. Authorities are investigating to identify additional suspects and determine whether the building’s owner was involved.
The same venue had been previously shut down in 2023 due to a drug-related death but was reportedly reopened under new management.
Earlier last week, 10 people were arrested, and assets worth over 100 million baht ($2.8 million) were seized in connection with a major online gambling network in Thailand. The suspects are linked to the Tiger24 gamblingwebsite, which reportedly had a turnover exceeding one billion baht ($28 million).
The arrests took place following coordinated raids across Bangkok, Pathum Thani, Chiang Mai and Sa Kaeo provinces. As per the investigators, the website operated a vast network across these areas, said Pol Lt Gen Wattana Yijeen, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 3.
Thailand has been intensifying efforts to combat organised crime, including illegal gambling and cyber fraud networks that often operate across borders. The government’s latest measures highlight its commitment to addressing regional security concerns.
The nation is stepping up its fight against gambling and cross-border crime to stop illegal networks near its borders. As the government discusses legalising 바카라s, there is growing pressure to weigh the economic benefits against social and security concerns.
