A high-profile Indian gambling investor was among 83 people arrested in Thailand on Monday after authorities discovered a makeshift casino in the convention hall of a Pattaya hotel.
Chikoti Praveen Kumar, who is said to operate a floor of the floating “Big Daddy” casino in Goa [Ed: This claim has been refuted by Big Daddy] and is known to run regular casino nights in Nepal attended by Bollywood celebrities, is accused of flying the group in from Hyderabad specifically to gamble, according to various media reports.
Praveen and his long-time associate, former politician Madhava Reddy, are accused of shipping in gaming equipment and dealers from India for the event, held at the Asia Pattaya Hotel in Chonburi. Those arrested were mainly Indian tourists, although some local Thais were also among the group, with authorities seizing records showing over Rs 100 crore (US$12.2 million) was in play.
The Times of India reports that the gamblers were told gambling was legal in Thailand before making the trip.
Praveen, a former real estate agent and aspiring film maker, is said to have widespread connections across India’s political and celebrity spheres.
He is already being probed by the Enforcement Directorate over alleged violations of India’s Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) – all linked to the gambling tours he regularly runs for associates.
Asked by reporters about these activities last year, Praveen said, “I don’t force or lure anybody to play casino. They attend the shows and play casino out of their own interest. Why should I stop them? And casino is completely legal in Goa in India and many other countries. What’s wrong in it? Whatever I am doing is completely legal and open.”
The conference room in Pattaya was allegedly booked for six days from 27 June to 2 May, with play also live-streamed back to Hyderabad.
It is claimed that police raided the hotel amid widespread criticism that some authorities have been cooperating with illegal gambling dens.
Thailand is currently considering legalizing casino gaming, with the House of Representatives earlier this year approving a report by a special House committee proposing the establishment of integrated resorts with casinos in various locations across the country.
