Police arrest Thais and Cambodians in luxury pool villa with underground casino
Police arrested Thais and Cambodians for allegedly running an underground gambling den.
Officers today stormed the Sunshine Life Pattaya Pool Villa in 'Sin City' Pattaya, eastern Thailand, following reports that it was a front for a secret casino.
Investigators surveilled the area, where a steady stream of suspicious visitors was seen coming and going from the property before gambling equipment was later brought in.
Police moved in as they reportedly heard loud noises suspected to be from gambling activities.
Footage shows cops raiding the plush villa, where alleged gamblers were gathered around a baccarat table.
Police arrested five men and 13 women, including four Cambodian card dealers.
They also seized a baccarat table, card decks, a computer monitor displaying scores, chairs, and gambling chips worth more than 500,000 baht.
Officials said the gang operated a ‘mobile gambling den', frequently shifting between remote villas to avoid detection while using lookouts and CCTVs to warn of approaching police.
The gang reportedly chose venues away from city centres to avoid suspicion.
Police Colonel Nattapol Phongsuksakul said the network operated 'professionally'.
He said: 'After receiving tips from informants and concerned residents, we had been monitoring the group's activities for some time. We found it to be a professional gambling operation with a specially arranged venue, standard gambling equipment, and its own surveillance system.
'Once we confirmed the gambling den was operating from this pool villa, officers planned and successfully carried out the raid.'
A woman named Yada, 41, also known as 'Jay Ting', allegedly admitted to being the organiser. She claimed the casino had only been open for a day and was accepting regulars and new customers in Chonburi and nearby provinces.
Police said all 18 suspects and the seized equipment were handed over to Nong Prue Police Station for further legal action.
Most forms of gambling are illegal in Thailand under the country's Gambling Act of 1935.
Poker, and other games like slot machines and baccarat, fall under the law's 'List A' and are prohibited.
Organisers of List A games may be punished with detention between three months and three years, and a fine ranging from 500 to 5,000 baht.
While players may be either jailed for up to three years, fined up to 5,000 baht, or both.
