Pattaya police raided a central Pattaya jewelry store, arresting 26 people after discovering a casino hidden behind steel doors.
The shop in the 9 Karat Condo on Soi Arunothai 2 was a front for the illegal gambling den, police said. Officers arrested owner Chaiya Saeliew, 52, four Thais and 21 Burmese employees who Chaiya said were being trained as dealers and game runners.
Arrests were made and gambling paraphernalia confiscated from an illegal casino being set up in the 9 Karat Condo on Soi Arunothai 2.
Police confiscated 10 casino tables, cards, assorted equipment, computers and chips in denominations from 50 baht to 10,000 baht.
Police said Chaiya admitted to owning the casino, but said it was not operational yet. Employees were still being trained and equipment still had yet to be brought in from the Cambodian border region.
