Thai authorities have raided a major underground gambling den in Bangkok, arresting more than 200 people and seizing financial records that revealed a monthly turnover of over 500 million baht (€12.6 million).
Major Raid Exposes Lucrative Illegal Network
Thai authorities have raided a major underground gambling den in Bangkok, arresting more than 200 people and seizing financial records that revealed a monthly turnover of over 500 million baht (€12.6 million).
The operation came at a politically sensitive moment, just days before the Constitutional Court is set to decide on August 29, 2025, whether suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will be permanently removed from office. Acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced the raid on August 27, calling the case a serious threat to public order and vowing stronger action against organized gambling networks that persist despite repeated police crackdowns.
Gambling Hub Linked to Crime and Addiction
Police had monitored the venue for about a month prior to the raid. The den reportedly operated nearly around the clock — from 10 a.m. until 6 a.m. the next day — with only a brief daily closure. Local residents had long complained that the hub fostered crime, insecurity, and widespread gambling addiction, with particular concern that youth were being lured in.
Inside, officers discovered five gambling halls, including a VIP section and a large central hall. Investigators estimated each room generated between 3–4 million baht (€76,000–€101,000) in just a few hours of play. Authorities also seized 17 bank books allegedly used to track and launder cash flows.
Officials believe the den was part of a wider network that has been repeatedly targeted in past raids but continues to resurface. Phumtham described it as “a clear threat to social stability” and promised no leniency.
Illegal Gambling Persists Despite Ban
Most forms of gambling remain banned in Thailand, with exceptions limited to the national lottery, betting on horse races in Bangkok, and a few minor card games. Nonetheless, underground casinos are widespread, often operating with tacit local approval or reopening shortly after raids.
Debates over legalizing integrated resort-style casinos have circulated in parliament for years. Supporters argue regulation could generate billions in revenue and curb the black market, while critics warn of addiction, crime, and social costs. The Bangkok raid highlights both the popularity of underground gambling and the government’s difficulties in enforcing an outright ban.
Political Stakes Heighten Tensions
The timing of the raid underscores Thailand’s fragile political environment. On August 29, the Constitutional Court will rule on whether Paetongtarn Shinawatra — the country’s youngest-ever prime minister and daughter of former leader Thaksin Shinawatra — should be permanently removed.
She was suspended last month after a leaked phone call with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen sparked accusations of violating constitutional restrictions on executive conduct, due to sensitive discussions about a border dispute.
