With the prospect of legal casinos in Thailand looking more remote by the day, authorities have arrested more than 70 people after busting an illegal gambling den in the Phahon Yothin area of Bangkok.
According to The Bangkok Post, the den was discovered following a series of complaints by local residents over security and addiction concerns. The venue is said to have been well-organized, offering players a phone deposit system, food service and multiple escape doors.
Authorities said more than THB800,000 (US$24,700) was seized from the operators, said to be a mix of Thais and Cambodians who rotated shifts throughout the day.
Combatting the proliferation of illegal gambling dens has been cited by Thailand’s government as one of the key reasons for pushing its Entertainment Complex Bill, which is facing significant delays in reaching the House amid increasing pressure from opposition parties. A Senate committee has also called for the bill to be withdrawn altogether.
Former Marina Bay Sands President and CEO George Tanasijevich pointed out during last month’s Thailand Entertainment Complex Roundtable in Bangkok that the decision over whether to push forward with entertainment complexes was basically a decision between allowing legal or illegal gambling.
“Ultimately what people will be looking for is a situation where operations can be conducted efficiently and safeguards are put in place to protect people who might be at risk. That would ultimately ensure a win-win situation for everybody involved,” he said.
“But I think you also have to face the fact that, regardless of whether you think entertainment complexes are favorable or not, people are going to gamble, so the choice is whether or not you want it to happen in Thailand legally through a structured regulated framework.”
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