More than 100 people were arrested on Friday night when authorities raided two large gambling dens equipped with tight security measures.
Special task force units conducted simultaneous raids on the two locations at 8pm following complaints about illegal gambling in residential and commercial areas of the northern border province, according to the Department of Provincial Administration.
In tambon Chang Phueak, Muang district, officials found a gambling den on the first floor of Phattharawan Place in the Santitham area, a mixed residential and commercial neighbourhood north of Chiang Mai’s Old Town.
The premises, known as the ‘Phattharawan gambling den’, had been converted into a large hall offering several types of gambling, including hi-lo, fish-shooting games and baccarat.
Authorities said the den had tight security measures in place. Customers were searched and required to surrender their mobile phones before entering. Another venue, known as the ‘Sri Ping Muang den’, was in tambon Haiya at Kad Wiang Ping food centre. It occupied a single-storey building with only one entrance and exit.
Customers were likewise required to hand over their mobile phones before entering.
Gambling games involving animal pictures and a traditional Thai gambling dice game called nam tao pu pla were offered, with Thais and foreigners coming and going throughout the day, authorities said.
The dens were reportedly open around the clock.
The suspects and evidence will be handed over to investigators for legal proceedings, said the administration department.
During the raids, officials arrested more than 100 gamblers, 14 alleged gambling organisers, eight of them foreign nationals, and four alleged facilitators.
They also seized various items as evidence, including cash and gambling chips worth over 2 million baht, gambling equipment, transaction records and documents related to the rental of the premises.