Operation “Taming the Lion” Nets 200 Arrests in Illegal Gambling Den

Operation “Taming the Lion”, initiated to dismantle one of Bangkok’s most profitable underground gambling operations, ended with a dramatic raid on a venue in the Don Muang district and the arrest of more than 200 people.

The Den Generated $13.8M a Month 

Authorities say the gambling house, which ran almost around the clock, was raking in extraordinary sums of over THB 500 million ($13.8 million) on a monthly basis. The den opened its doors daily at 10 a.m. and didn’t close until 6 a.m. the next day, pausing for just a few hours before resuming business.

The raid was set up following several weeks of thorough surveillance as a result of tip-offs received by the Ministry of Interior’s Special Operations Unit from local residents concerning loud noise and suspicious late-night gatherings. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai called the tip-offs a “crucial lead” which prompted police to launch a covert investigation. 

Officers came across a sophisticated setup that had managed to withstand all prior crackdown attempts by exploiting a series of legal gaps and only getting hit with relatively small penalties.

Inside the building, police found five gambling rooms, including a central hall and restricted VIP sections. Investigators estimate that each room could generate between THB 3 million ($92,800) and THB 4 million ($123,700) in just a few hours of play. 

Alongside tables and betting equipment, officers seized 17 bank passbooks connected to accounts that collectively recorded the money. The accounts are currently used to track the exact flow of money and identify the individuals responsible for running the wider network.

Crackdown Efforts Continue 

Officials believe the Don Muang operation to be part of a much broader web of illegal gambling houses in the capital. The raid aimed, therefore, not only to close this particular site but also to gather intelligence on the larger organization behind it.

“The den was part of a network that had been raided multiple times but continued to operate illegally,” said Wechayachai.

Those arrested are now facing legal proceedings. Earlier this year, a similar tip-off led to the discovery of another illegal casino inside a warehouse in the Bang Yai district, Nonthaburi. In November 2023, the Thai Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau’s raid on online gambling hub UFAV8 exposed a multi-million baht gambling network.

Authorities revealed the success of the bust on August 27 at 11 p.m. using the voice of Wechayachai, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Interior and the Royal Thai Police. 
Among those present were the Ministry of Interior’s permanent secretary, Ansit Samphantharat, the Department of Provincial Administration’s deputy director-general, Ronnarong Thipsiri, and police chief Pol Col Puwadol Oonpothi.