Man Arrested at Phuket Vegetarian Festival Over Prize Games Deemed Gambling

A man was arrested during the Phuket Vegetarian Festival after district officials determined that shooting and balloon-dart games offering prizes in exchange for paid attempts constituted gambling without a licence.

Officials inspected the festival area in Mueang Phuket district at around 10:20pm on October 10 following complaints about suspected gambling activities operating alongside festival attractions.

During the inspection, they found shooting and balloon-dart games in which customers paid for ammunition or darts and had the chance to win dolls and other prizes by completing the challenges.

Authorities ruled that the activities amounted to gambling for property without the required permission. One man was arrested on suspicion of operating the shooting game as unlicensed gambling, and equipment connected to the activity was seized as evidence.

The suspect was taken to the Mueang Phuket district office to have the arrest formally recorded before being transferred to Phuket City Police Station for further legal proceedings.

District officials said inspections were being conducted to prevent gambling and other inappropriate activities in and around shrine grounds throughout the annual Vegetarian Festival.

In a separate case in Patong, four people were arrested after police raided a small shop where they allegedly found a group playing a card game known as “Kang” for money.

According to police, the shop was reportedly being used as an underground gambling venue. Investigators said the premises had been adapted to avoid attracting attention, with lookouts and a discreet entry system intended to keep outsiders from discovering the operation.