Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Discussion on where to go when the sun goes down in Hua Hin; bars, pubs, clubs, karaoke and general nightlife.
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Bamboo Grove
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by Bamboo Grove »

To be on the safe side, better get the required permits.

Officials Swoop in to Seize Unregistered Dartboards

By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter -
March 13, 2018 3:16 pm

BANGKOK — The national darts association said pubs and sport bars that wish to offer the sport must register their equipment lest they be confiscated by local authorities.

The warning came amid complaints from establishment owners in Pattaya that they are being targeted by officials demanding dart permits. Thailand Dart Association chairman Vichai Govindani said the crackdown is supported by a 83-year-old law that lists darts, bingo and numerous other sports as gambling.

“It has always been illegal,” Vichai said. “If you play at home, it’s not illegal. But if you play at a commercial venue, it’s considered part of business, and it might be associated with gambling. You need a permit for it, like snooker and pool and bingo.”

Online reports in the past month have detailed accounts of local officials raiding pubs catering to foreigners in the resort town of Pattaya and asking to see their permits. Owners who fail to show a relevant license have had their equipment seized.

Vichai said the law is enforced not by police but municipal officials.

Asked why the authorities are suddenly getting tough on a ubiquitous and seemingly benign sport such as darts, Vichai said it’s one of those crackdowns that comes in cycles.

“In the past there was crackdown, too, then it disappeared for some time,” Vichai, who has been playing darts for more than 30 years, said in an interview. “Now it’s back. But it’s good. At least it might make people interested in the sport.”

Chonburi Gov. Pakarathon Tienchai said he has no information about specific raids, but maintained that officials are required by law to crack down on any act of potential gambling.

“If they play for fun, it’s not a problem. But if it could be gambling, we have to take action,” Pakarathon said. “Officials have to see if there’s any gambling involved.”

A 1935 law lists dozens of sports and games as gambling, including darts, bingo, lottery, billiards and mahjong. Those who wish to play or organize matches require permission from the state under the pre-WWII legislation.

Vichai said his association can issue the necessary permits free of charge to any establishment that requests one from his association.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crim ... artboards/
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by HHTel »

You need a permit for it, like snooker and pool and bingo.
Anyone have a pool licence??
gambling, including darts, bingo, lottery, billiards and mahjong.
Hmmm.
Vichai said his association can issue the necessary permits free of charge
So what's the Darts Association got to do with law enforcement??
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by oakdale160 »

I have seen Thai people playing darts in farang-targeted bars, do they have dart boards in the all-thai bars
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

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So what's the Darts Association got to do with law enforcement??
As Vichai said, the association can get the correct permissions. Obviously you might be able to get them from the police but it might be easier via Vichai. I know him personally and he is a darts man through and through.

The pool licences must surely follow soon.
I have seen Thai people playing darts in farang-targeted bars, do they have dart boards in the all-thai bars
During my darts playing years in Bangkok 1994-2004-5, I can only recall two or three all-thai bar venues with dart boards. They didn't last long as they were only aimed for playing darts so there was not much income, unlike the western run bars, which usually also have pool tables, food and quite serious beer drinking.
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by GroveHillWanderer »

I think the khaosodenglish article mischaracterizes the law slightly (something they seem to have a habit of doing, based on various articles I have read). I alluded to this in an earlier post but the law as I read it, does not say that the activities themselves are classified as gambling. What it does say is that the activities in its List B (including darts, pool etc) require either a licence or a ministerial regulation saying a licence is not required, whenever the organizer stands to gain, either directly or indirectly, or if there is gambling or prizes involved.
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by oakdale160 »

OK guys, have a game of darts but none of that---"loser buys the next round" thats gambling.
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Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by BarryAmilm »

Im wondering if theres some kind of power struggle going on. All this talk of police coming into bars demanding fines for venues with big-screen TVs happens to have come about at the same time as a big increase in the amount roadside licence/helmet checks by the police - until recently these had all but disappeared in Hua Hin.

And now we have the army going into bars...?
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by oakdale160 »

Is there no way we can get rid of these farang? We've tried closing their bars for no reason, stopped them smoking. How about we stop them playing darts, they have these dart matches that they seem to enjoy, stop that, make some more impossible mmigration rules, perhaps that will drive them away.
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by handdrummer »

oakdale160 wrote: Sat Jul 06, 2019 8:22 am Is there no way we can get rid of these farang? We've tried closing their bars for no reason, stopped them smoking. How about we stop them playing darts, they have these dart matches that they seem to enjoy, stop that, make some more impossible mmigration rules, perhaps that will drive them away.
Easier to stop issuing retirement visas. That would take care of those pesky farangs.
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Re: Venues will now need licence for playing darts

Post by sateeb »

Great knee jerk comments to a nearly 18 months old thread :tosser:
“Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

― George Carlin
“The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” -George Orwell.
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