In a large-scale operation against illegal gambling, Thai authorities have arrested over 80 tourists, mainly from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh in India, at a star hotel in Pattaya. The arrests were made following a tip-off from unnamed sources in Goa, which led to the discovery of a massive gambling scam.
The alleged mastermind behind the operation, Chikoti Praveen, a prominent casino organizer from Hyderabad previously booked by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), was among those detained. The arrests occurred during a raid on April 27, where police uncovered a makeshift casino operating in a convention hall within the Thai hotel.
The gaming sessions were reportedly live-streamed to financiers in India who funded the event. The arrested individuals included politicians, a District Cooperative Central Bank chairman, and Chikoti Praveen, who was identified as a major investor in Big Daddy casino. The makeshift casino had reportedly flown in gamblers from Hyderabad, offering comprehensive ‘gambling and tourism’ packages.
Chikoti Praveen denied organizing the event, claiming he was invited and stating, “I was invited to the place by Sitranan Kaewlor and Dev, who organized the poker tournament for people across the world.” He emphasized his legal gambling ventures in other countries and questioned how he could be in Goa if he were blacklisted.
The raid resulted in the seizure of significant gambling paraphernalia, including 25 sets of cards, ₹20.92 crore worth of gambling chips, baccarat and blackjack tables, ₹1.60 lakh, 92 mobile phones, and three computers. A logbook was also discovered, detailing gambling credit records amounting to ₹10 lakh in circulation.
The arrested individuals were released after furnishing bonds of Thai Baht 4,500 (₹10,900 each). Their visas were canceled, and they were blacklisted from entering Thailand for a specific period. So now, these Indians can join to play in Thai casinos only in the online version. So we advise them to explore reviews of the best Thai online casinos, for example on this website.
This incident follows ongoing investigations into Chikoti Praveen by Indian authorities over alleged forex violations at his casino properties in India and Nepal. Six Thai nationals and four Myanmar nationals were also arrested for their involvement in aiding the illegal betting operation.
The Thai police’s swift action highlights their commitment to tackling illegal gambling activities and ensuring the integrity of their country’s tourism industry.
