Phuket Police Bust Illegal Russian-Run Poker Operation in Luxury Villa

On February 12, 2026, Phuket police conducted a raid on an illegal gambling operation run by foreign nationals in a luxury villa in the Rawai area. The poker den was exclusively advertised to foreign players on Instagram under the account 'Poker Level', requiring a 20,000 baht entry fee per session and accepting bets in Thai baht and cryptocurrency. Following surveillance on February 11, police entered the property and arrested nine suspects - including seven Russians, one Ukrainian, and one Kazakh national. Authorities seized cash, gambling equipment, electronic devices, and chips. The suspects were charged with organizing and participating in illegal gambling, with all nine transferred to investigators for further legal proceedings.