Ten foreign nationals were arrested on December 2 during a police raid on an illegal poker game in Koh Phangan district, Surat Thani. The operation took place around 10pm after officers from Division 5 of the Tourist Police Bureau received information that a group of foreigners had gathered at a private residence to participate in illegal gambling.
When police arrived at the location, they noticed an unusually large number of motorbikes parked outside the property. Through partially closed curtains, officers could see several individuals playing cards at a long table. Before entering, police recorded video footage of the activity to document the gambling in progress.
Inside the residence, officers found a total of ten foreigners seated around a green-felt table. The group consisted of six Russians, one Romanian, one Israeli, one German and one British national. Several decks of cards, poker chips and an automatic card shuffler were laid out on the table. Additional gambling equipment was discovered elsewhere on the premises. All items were confiscated as evidence.
Among the players was 36-year-old Russian national Anton Kozko, who media outlets later identified as the organiser of the event. According to police, Kozko had rented the house for 30,000 baht per month and admitted to inviting his friends to the poker game via phone calls and messaging apps. During the search, officers found 134,950 baht in cash inside a waist bag he was carrying. The money was seized along with all gambling materials.
All ten foreigners were charged with illegal gambling for monetary gain. Kozko faces an additional charge for organising the activity. The group was transported to Koh Phangan Police Station for further processing and legal proceedings. Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, head of Tourist Police Division 5, confirmed the details of the raid and arrests the following day.
Thailand maintains strict laws prohibiting most forms of gambling. While state-run lotteries and certain horse-racing events are permitted, all other forms of gambling — including poker — remain illegal unless authorised by specific legislation. The previous administration briefly considered recognising poker as a sport, a move that attracted attention from both players and tourism stakeholders. However, in October, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul officially scrapped that policy, reaffirming the government’s commitment to tightening enforcement.
Authorities have since increased surveillance and crackdowns on unauthorised gambling activities, particularly those involving foreign residents or tourists. Koh Phangan, known for its nightlife and international community, has frequently been a location of interest for police monitoring.
The arrests highlight the government’s renewed stance on gambling enforcement and serve as a warning to both locals and foreigners that private, invitation-only gambling events remain illegal under Thai law. Police officials said further investigations would determine whether the group had held similar gatherings in the past or if additional individuals were involved.
