21 Indians arrested in a major raid in an illegal online gambling operation in Pattaya

A team of over 50 Pattaya police officers conducted a raid on an illegal online gambling operation hidden within a house in Soi Sukhumvit 91/2 in East Pattaya on June 11 reported PattayaMail.

The officers, operating under a search warrant from the Chonburi Provincial Court, surrounded the two-story house before initiating the raid. They found a network of Indian nationals engaged in various forms of online gambling, including baccarat, poker, slots, and sports betting.

Ten individuals were found working at computers and fielding calls related to illegal gambling activities on the ground floor, while a few Indian nationals were found sleeping on the second floor. In total, 21 men were detained, with some possessing student or tourist visas and others lacking proper documentation.

Police seized evidence, including four desktop computers, eight laptops, over 50 mobile phones, and numerous Thai SIM cards. The house featured clocks displaying times for India, the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), and Thailand, along with written notes in Indian Language outlining work schedules and bank account details. The operation’s daily financial turnover exceeded 200 million Indian rupees, equivalent to approximately 100 million Thai baht.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Chatchai Surachetphong, Deputy Commissioner of Region 2 Police, stated that the investigation resulted from long-term surveillance by Chonburi Transnational Crime Suppression Police. The raid was authorized by the Pattaya Provincial Court and exposed the Indian group’s role as administrators for overseas-based gambling sites. The person responsible for recruiting the administrators is currently missing.

One of the arrested persons who served as an administrator revealed that the group had rented the house since August 2023 for 30,000 baht per month. This group operated seven websites mainly catering to Indian and Dubai-based clients, with administrators working in eight-hour shifts.

A few of the arrested individuals are legally in Thailand, some have overstayed their visas, and others have entered the country illegally. Pol. Lt. Gen. Somprasong Yentuam, Commissioner of Region 2 Police, will disclose further details regarding the case at an upcoming press conference.