A Chinese owner of 49 slot machines approached Sattahip police to assert his innocence, stating he bought each machine for 5,000 baht after seeing news about an entertainment complex and was unaware that possession was illegal under Thai law. Authorities are expediting an investigation to determine if there is any connection to a scam gang or grey-area business.
On the evening of 8 Nov 2025 GMT+7, Pol. Col. Komsan Kamtunkaew, superintendent of Sattahip Police Station, led police investigative and suppression teams to raid a commercial building in Moo 2, Bang Sare Subdistrict, Sattahip District, Chonburi Province. They found Mr. KUNJUN SONG, 57, Chinese national, acting as caretaker, and Mr. Praphan Meesawat, 30, hired to transport 49 electronic gaming machines or slot machines, wrapped in black bags, plus two internet signal distribution devices, one PC, and 24 boxes of electronic equipment. The building's windows were covered with opaque black stickers to prevent visibility. Slot machines were arranged orderly with internet coverage installed on every floor. The setup is believed to be linked to gambling or a “scammer” operation currently in the news.
As of 9 Nov 2025 GMT+7, Mr. Yu Hongwei, 30, Chinese national, voluntarily met with Lt. Col. Thanit Thapakdee, deputy investigating officer at Sattahip Police Station, to identify himself as the owner of the 49 gaming machines and to declare his innocence. He told police he bought all the slot machines secondhand for 5,000 baht each and stored them at the building. Earlier, he had heard news that the Thai government planned to legalize casinos, so he purchased the machines in preparation to open a business. However, after the cancellation of legalized casinos, he had a Chinese friend transport all machines to a warehouse in Surin Province for storage, unaware that possession of slot machines is illegal in Thailand.
Initial police interrogation is underway; if wrongdoing is found, charges will be filed. Regarding the network system and origin of the gaming machines, information has been sent to the Investigation Division of the Provincial Police Region 2 and the Chonburi Provincial Police Investigation unit to pursue further legal investigations.