Chalong Police Station arrested nine foreign nationals for illegally operating a poker gambling den in a luxury villa in Phuket. The operation was advertised via Instagram, screening players with a fee of 20,000 baht per session.
At 13:00 on 12 Feb 2026 GMT+7, Police Colonel Surasak Jaidee, Chief of Chalong Police Station, reported the arrest of foreign nationals illegally gambling without permission to Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police. The investigation revealed a group of foreigners advertising poker gambling throughan applicationInstagram under the name Poker Level, with messages inviting poker gambling in Russian language in Rawai Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District. Interested parties had to register to play through a link onthe applicationwhich then connected tothe applicationWhatsApp. Entry was limited to foreigners only, with payments made in cryptocurrency and Thai baht cash. Players were required to pay a 20,000 baht registration fee per game. The illegal gambling took place inside a luxury villa in Rawai Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District.
Later, on the evening of 11 Feb 2026 GMT+7, the Chalong Police investigation team gathered information about an upcoming poker gambling session. They deployed around the villa, which was brightly lit allowing clear visibility inside. After surveillance confirmed illegal gambling involving assets, the team raided the villa, arresting nine suspects: seven Russians, one Ukrainian, and one Kazakh. Evidence seized included cash, gaming tables, cards, and chips representing monetary value.
Additionally, digitaldevicessuch as mobile phones and computers were seized for further electronic evidence examination. All suspects were taken to Chalong Police Station and charged with organizing unauthorized gambling (poker) for profit and participating in unauthorized gambling (poker).