PATTAYA, Thailand – Worries are mounting in Chonburi as electronic claw machine arcades, often disguised as harmless entertainment, continue to mushroom across the Banglamung district—raising alarms about their potential to groom children into gambling behaviors.
The concern intensified after Nakhon Nayok police recently seized 77 coin-operated claw machines following complaints that they were enticing youth into gambling. The raid found no owner present, but confirmed the machines were being used without proper authorization.
On April 24, reporters observed a widespread presence of similar machines throughout Banglamung—including Pattaya City, Nongprue, Huai Yai, and other areas under four police jurisdictions. These machines have become ubiquitous, appearing in shopping malls, gas stations, community areas, and even educational institutions. Some venues have turned entire shopfronts into air-conditioned arcade-style businesses with over 10 machines, attracting children and teenagers, some of whom arrive alone.
These arcades often use aggressive promotions to lure customers—offering free coins for social media likes and gold necklace prizes for high spending. Despite signs stating item values and warnings like “This is not a playground,” minors continue to use the machines in large numbers.
While claw machines fall under Prohibited Gambling Type B, Item 28 of the 1935 Gambling Act, which requires licensing and can carry penalties of up to 2 years in jail or a 2,000 baht fine, enforcement seems lax in Banglamung. This contrasts starkly with the crackdown in Nakhon Nayok, leaving residents confused and concerned about the apparent double standards.
Now that the government has successfully removed openly sold e-cigarettes from the area, locals are calling for similar efforts to tackle these machine arcades, urging authorities to step in and prevent potential long-term social harm among Chonburi’s youth.
