On July 5th, Thai police conducted an operation in a house in the Huay Yai subdivision of Pattaya East, arresting 12 suspects involved in illegal gambling. Banglamung District Chief Weekit Manarotkit stated that the police had received prior intelligence. The operation involved over 40 administrative officers.
According to Pattaya Mail, law enforcement found two groups of gamblers, each consisting of six people, mostly elderly, in two different rooms. Items seized included playing cards, card tables, poker cards, card pushers, and cash. Records show that the gambling had been ongoing for 30 days, with alleged payments of 3000 to 7000 Thai Baht to unidentified police units. The arrested individuals were taken to the Banglamung District Office for further processing.
District Chief Lau Kok Keng emphasized that the establishment of casinos in Thailand faces significant obstacles, particularly due to an incomplete regulatory framework.
In June, Thailand's Ministry of Finance announced that the final draft of the bill to legalize casino entertainment complexes was nearing completion and would be reviewed by the cabinet within three to four weeks. Opinions from 16 government agencies drafted by a special House of Representatives committee will be included in the supplementary document of the proposal. If approved by the cabinet, the bill will be submitted to the Office of the Council of State for additional review, then to the House of Representatives.
