THAILAND – The Interior Ministry issued an order banning all poker and card games across the country with immediate effect, signed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and published on 22 October.
Immediate nationwide ban
The directive, numbered 3179/2568, took effect on publication and nullified existing gambling licences linked to poker and other card games. It also revoked a previous order from July and stopped any new approvals for poker- or card game-related gambling activities.
Poker named as a hidden form of gambling
The ministry singled out poker as a specific example of a game being used as a cover for gambling activities. “To ensure that all operations align with national policy, we have suspended all poker and card game permits with immediate effect,” the Interior Ministry said in its announcement.
Private games could be affected
Officials warned that even private poker nights among friends could fall foul of the new policy. The ministry described the ban as absolute and said it left no gray areas for interpretation.
Legal basis and government stance
The order relied on paragraph 17 of the Gambling Act of 2478 BE (1935), which grants the minister the authority to revoke gambling licences and amend regulations as needed. Prime Minister Anutin had told parliament on 29 September that the government would not legalize gambling or support the creation of entertainment complexes that include gambling.
The Interior Ministry reiterated the administration’s position: “This government will not support any form of gambling — neither traditional, digital nor disguised as sport.”
Follow-up from law enforcement
On the same day the order was issued, Prime Minister Anutin chaired a meeting of the Royal Thai Police Commission to discuss further crime-fighting measures. A police spokesman said additional outcomes from that meeting would be announced shortly.
The ban marks a significant tightening of Thailand’s approach to gambling. For many poker enthusiasts in the country, the order effectively ended organised games, while the government said the measure was necessary to prevent gambling-related crime and financial harm.