Bridge club in Pattaya raided

[Paderborn]

Hi everyone, a friend in Pattaya has sent me this article.
A long established non gambling, bridge club had been raided by over 50 police. The organiser and all participants were arrested and released on bail having paid 5,000 baht each.
http://pattayaone.net/pattaya-news/2212 ... h-pattaya/

New items like this don't do the tourist trade any good!
Cheers paderborn

[oakdale160]

I guess it is inconceivable to a Thai mind that you could play cards and NOT gamble.
I have had Thai golfers tell me the same in golf, they are amazed that farang will play a real battle over 18 holes with no bet involved.

[Bristolian]

Good to see that the Government are holding true to their promise to crackdown on Foreign hard core criminals. Apparently the Thai Bridge League are sending a representative to Pattaya to explain the rules of the game and show that it's played for points and not money

The police claim that they were still breaking Thai law as any unlicensed premises is only allowed to have 120 cards. The cards that they were playing with also did not have the appropriate stamp.

I thought it must be a joke but apparently no.... They're serious. Anyone for a game of Dominoes?

[oakdale160]

Monty Python is so annoyed, they thought that they had done sketches about the most ludicrous si uations possible, but the Pattaya Police Force managed to upstage them.

[Spitfire]

Probably one of the most farcical stories I've ready here for a bit. An image boost for the keystone cops for sure.

[dtaai-maai]

Erm... is backgammon illegal...?
Do I care?
Is bridge like bowls, where you're only allowed to start playing when you reach 50?
Have none of the old farts folks that play bridge ever considered converting the points to cash, thereby making the game potentially interesting?

I thought I'd seen it all here, but the surprises just keep on coming. I wonder if it will actually get to court? I don't suppose this was very amusing for those involved.

[kendo]

Tea money on an industrious scale.

[Bristolian]

Thank heavens that they were not playing in a Cribbage "Cribb" league. At least they would have been arrested for sexual offences.

Fifteen- two, Fifteen-four, Fifteen--six and..... "One For his KNOB" .....(Non cribbage players - look up game scoring)

[Bristolian]

I don't suppose this was very amusing for those involved.

Apparently they were released after 12 hours and after paying 5,000 baht bail (tea) money. One refused to pay and was still in custody. That's the Dunkirk spirit for you

[StevePIraq]

And you gotta love this statement "Thailand has strict anti-gambling laws, with nearly all forms of gambling prohibited"

Yet Thai's gamble on everything, cards, cock fighting, bull fighting, Muay Thai, boat racing and just about everything else.

Do the government not see the harm they are doing to the Thai image

[Bristolian]

What amuses me is that the KSC raided after a tip-off. Mmm they have raided the BKK boiler rooms many times after similar tip-offs but guess what? There's never anyone there?? Not a single pensioner, not even a church mouse but those Bas***** are still in buisness in the same offices minutes later. Maybe it's because they can't find 121 playing cards. Yes! That must be it!!

[Pleng]

This is the law they were apparently in breach of!!!

http://www.thailawforum.com/laws/Playing%20cards.pdf

[dtaai-maai]

I don't indulge myself - Let me rephrase that, as I indulge myself regularly - I don't participate myself, but there are many forms of gambling accessible on the Internet (I flirted with on-line backgammon several years ago - once bitten twice shy!) - are these sites blocked by the authorities here?

To treat the whole issue seriously for a moment, I'm sure most of us are aware that there are real problems with card-playing forms of gambling in Thailand, often involving women (remember Sarge's ex-Mrs?), and I can sort of understand where these laws come from, in principle at least. But gambling isn't something you can control by regulating the supply of packs of cards or simply outlawing card games. All laws require, and I hesitate to use these words, the application of common sense.

Detaining an 84-year-old woman for 12 hours for playing bridge - I can't wait for this to hit the European press.

EDIT: According to the law Pleng refers to, they could theoretically get a 10 year prison sentence!

[Bristolian]

^^ and I thought that there were only two jokers in a pack! The KSC obviously hold aces up their sleeves.

[oakdale160]

Of all the details of the story, one that perplexes me is why 120 cards. 52 or 104 or 156 (perhaps more for jockers) I could understand but 120?????