Bangkok, October 22, 2025– In a decisive move displaying his administration’s staunch opposition to gambling as an economic or social driver, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signed an executive order today strictly revoking permissions for poker tournaments and “Pai Phae” card games, which had been operating under the guise of sporting or recreational activities after a previous order by the prior Pheu Thai government. The order targets operations that have proliferated in recent months, often masquerading as legitimate sports events to evade Thailand’s longstanding prohibitions on most forms of betting.
Speaking to reporters after the signing, Charnvirakul explained the government’s firm policy: “We will not promote any form of gambling. Our focus remains on ethical growth, tourism that benefits all, and policies aligned with national welfare.”
A Rapid Reversal on Poker and Emerging Loopholes
The revocation directly addresses a controversial July 2025 decision under the previous administration, when acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai issued Interior Ministry Order No. 2253/2568, lifting a 1958 ban on poker tournaments. This move, timed just before an international poker event on July 31st, allowed the game to be classified as a “sport” by the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), opening doors to organized competitions and potential betting sidelines. Critics, including Charnvirakul’s Bhumjaithai Party, decried it as a hasty ploy to boost tourism revenue.
“Pai Phae,” a traditional Thai card game also known as Pai Tong or Pai Phong, involves draw-and-discard mechanics with money-suited cards, where players form sets like triplets or flushes to outscore opponents. Similar to rummy variants, it has deep cultural roots in Thailand and neighboring Malaysia but has increasingly been commercialized in underground or semi-legal venues as a low-stakes betting game. Disguised events blending Pai Phae with “sports” formats—such as team-based tournaments—emerged as a workaround to the Gambling Act of 1935, which bans most private wagering except state-run horse racing and the lottery.
Under today’s order, authorities will enforce immediate shutdowns of such venues, with penalties including fines up to 10,000 baht ($300) and potential imprisonment for organizers. The Ministry of Interior, which Charnvirakul previously helmed, will oversee compliance, building on recent crackdowns that blocked over 190 illegal online gambling sites earlier this year.
For the original version of this article, please visit The Pattaya News.
