Key points:
- Police uncover illegal gambling activity in southern Patong
- Three women and one man charged with colluding to gamble
- Case involves ‘Kang cards’ and gambling for property without licence
Four Thai nationals have been arrested following a police operation targeting an alleged underground gambling network in Patong, as reported by The Phuket News.
The suspects, comprising a 36-year-old man and three women aged 35, 34 and 32, were apprehended at a shop located in Soi Kebsup, near the southern end of Patong. The arrests came after a police investigation into reports of a covert gambling operation being run from the premises.
Patong Police confirmed the raid was conducted after surveillance linked the location to a wider illicit gambling ring. Officers stated that the group had been caught participating in a card game known locally as “Kang cards”, which is banned under Thai law.
Good to know: Kang cards is one of several traditional games frequently associated with unlicensed gambling across Thailand, often played for property or cash stakes in breach of national regulations
The four individuals have been formally charged with “colluding to gamble” and “gambling for property without permission”, both in violation of Thailand’s strict gambling statutes.
Police said all suspects were taken to Patong Police Station, along with the evidence seized during the raid, for further legal proceedings. The case remains under investigation, and authorities have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on illegal gambling activities across the region.
