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In a decisive move against underground gambling, law enforcement officials in Thailand’s Muang district recently conducted a raid on two alleged gambling establishments. The operations, which reportedly ran round the clock, were in clear violation of the country’s gambling regulations and attempt of enforcing responsible gambling.
Operation and Apprehension
At both locations, patrons were required to surrender their mobile devices upon entry, a common practice intended to prevent the leakage of information about the establishments’ operations. The raids resulted in the arrest of 104 individuals including croupiers and gamblers who were swiftly transported to a local police station. Seized during the raid were not just individuals but also an unspecified amount of cash, gambling paraphernalia, and a number of vehicles.
While the charges filed against these individuals varied, all were related to their participation in or operation of illegal gambling activities. One of the locations mentioned in the complaint was the Phattarawan Snooker Club, also in the Muang district. It was unclear whether a similar raid was executed at this establishment.
Cleaning Up the City’s Image
The city’s top cop, Pongwiwattanachai, expressed his discontent with the situation. He lamented how these illicit establishments have tainted the city’s reputation, impacting not just its image but also the trust citizens have in their law enforcement.
In his response, Pongwiwattanachai has taken the bold step of restructuring the city’s police force. Five high-ranking officials have been relocated, not due to confirmed involvement in illegal activities, but as a signal of intent for a clean, uncompromised police force. The goal is to bolster the force’s defences against lawbreaking and discourage officers from participating in any underhanded activities.
Regulated Gambling: An Alternate Path?
One other method of cleaning up the city’s image could be through an expansion of legalized gambling. Talks are in progress to introduce regulated casinos into the landscape including the addition of scratch cards and sweet bonanza slot games for VIP patrons. Despite these discussions having been ongoing for two years, progress has been slow and only minor strides have been taken.
While the recent raids clearly signal the city’s firm stance against illegal gambling, the introduction of regulated live casinos could offer a potentially more constructive approach.
