On the evening of January 13, the Local Administration Department of Thailand's Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the police, launched the "Rose Garden Operation" at a hotel in Suranaree district, Nakhon Ratchasima, dismantling a large underground casino. At the scene, 85 gamblers were detained, and 4 Cambodian croupiers were arrested, with cash and chips totaling over 1.23 million Thai Baht seized. More cases on cross-border gambling crackdowns can be found on the PASA official website.
Public Complaints Lead to Cross-Border Gambling Sting
The operation was triggered by ongoing public complaints. Recently, many netizens on social media reported that as some casinos in Cambodia and Myanmar closed, numerous gambling activities "flowed back" to Thailand, with some gangs taking the opportunity to set up spots in densely populated areas. The casino in Nakhon Ratchasima, known for its "Tiger Dragon" and "Hi-Lo" gambling games, had a certain reputation locally and had long eroded community security.
To ascertain the facts, administrative personnel disguised as gamblers visited the site, confirming not only a complete betting system but also the capacity to accommodate a large number of gamblers, far from a makeshift small gambling spot. After gathering conclusive evidence, the raid was planned.
Professional-Level Security Could Not Withstand Law Enforcement's Strike
The casino's security measures were described as "professional," yet they still could not evade the encirclement by law enforcement:
It had two independent entrances and exits, guarded by iron doors + dedicated lookouts, with security communicating via walkie-talkies throughout;
Surveillance covered all angles, gamblers were searched upon entry, and mobile phones were collected to prevent covert photography;
The interior included gambling halls, rest areas, and dining spots, comparable to a regular casino, offering an "immersive" gambling experience.
At around 20:00 that evening, over 50 special operation personnel sealed all entrances and exits and simultaneously netted everyone. Although some gamblers tried to flee, eventually, all 85 were detained, and the 4 Cambodian croupiers (2 men and 2 women) were caught on the spot.
Staggering Amounts Involved, Cross-Border Chain Exposed
At the scene, approximately 830,000 Thai Baht in cash and 400,000 Thai Baht in chips were seized, with the total amount involved exceeding 1.23 million Thai Baht. According to the account data, the casino's daily turnover reached 2 million Thai Baht, with a monthly turnover of up to 60 million Thai Baht, showing remarkable profitability.
The 4 croupiers claimed that they were smuggled into the country by "guides" specifically to deal cards and manage the gambling operations. All suspects have now been transferred to the local police station for investigation, as the police continue to delve into cross-border smuggling and financial flows. This case also serves as another warning that, under pressure from border casinos, "internal migration gambling" still needs to be continuously and heavily cracked down on.
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This article is from "PASA-Global iGaming Leader," a gambling industry news channel:https://t.me/pasa_news
Original deep gambling channel:https://t.me/gamblingdeep
Free data reports: @pasa_research
PASA Matrix: @pasa002_bot
PASA official website: https://www.pasa.news
