In Thailand, five Russians were arrested for playing poker
On January 22, Thai police detained five Russians in a villa in Phuket for playing poker.
Four of the Russians were accused of illegal gambling, and one of them was accused of smuggling hookah smoking mixtures. The police seized 88 chips, which are estimated to be worth about $10 thousand, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
Gambling is legally prohibited in Thailand, except for sweepstakes and lotteries. The storage and distribution of hookahs and electronic smoking devices of all kinds, as well as smoking mixtures, and the smoking of these devices are also prohibited.
Detained players can face up to a year in prison and a fine of up to 10 thousand baht (≈ $300) each. The Russian man found with hookah mixtures faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine equal to four times the value of the mixtures found in his possession.