The casinos in Cambodia just across the border with Thailand do good business. Gamblers are flocking to the 10 casinos in Poipet opposite Sa Kaeo and 2 opposite Surin because they fear the announced hunt for illegal casinos in Bangkok.
They don't have to do much effort (other than bring money) because those casinos provide transport to and from Bangkok by bus or minibus. The buses take different routes and also pick up customers along the way. Crossing the border is no problem. If you do not have a passport, you will receive a one-day visa.
The casinos in Cambodia are for the most part joint ventures of Cambodian and Thai businessmen and politicians. The large casinos make an annual turnover of 13 to 15 billion baht, the smaller 500 to 700 million baht.
In the past two days, 6.000 Thais passed through the border post in Chong Jom (Surin), twice as many as normal. The market vendors at the Chong Jom Border Market also benefited from the doubled gambling tourism. "The market feels very small today," said the market master.
The relocation is the result of an announcement by Vice Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung that he will crack down on the 42 illegal casinos in Bangkok. The issue became topical when MP Chuvit Kamolvisit showed a video in parliament of an illegal casino in Sutthisan (Bangkok). According to him, it was tolerated by the Sutthisan police and was owned by senior police officials.
Following the revelation, a committee of the Royal Thai Police is investigating illegal casinos in Bangkok. Numerous police officers have already been heard and heads are expected to roll. The committee will report this week to the chief of police, from Tuesday Priewpan Damapong, the brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Thaksin.
Bangkok Post columnist Voranai Vanijaka dedicates a cynical commentary to the announced hunt for the illegal casinos. Today is Sunday, he writes, five days have passed since Chalerm's announcement. Has anyone read any news about 42 casinos being raided and shut down? Exactly. With the announcement, casino operators have just to pack up and take a holiday. Then when this charade is over, the casinos can reopen.'
Fellow columnist Roger Crutchley tells some entertaining anecdotes about police crackdowns on casinos. In 1994, visitors to a casino failed to flee in time from the police because a bulky man was trapped in the fence of the escape route. Everyone who was arrested suffered from amnesia. One MP did not even know his name.
In 1983, a casino in a member of parliament's backyard was broken up. The honorable Member of Parliament had no knowledge of its existence, because – as he told the media – he came home late every night from parliament and immediately went to bed.