Phuket official arrests man for illegal gambling at festival

A man has been arrested in Phuket, Thailand, after authorities determined that carnival-style games at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival constituted illegal gambling. Following reports of suspicious activity, officials inspected the event area in the Mueang Phuket district on October 10.

Investigators identified shooting and balloon-dart games where participants paid for ammunition or darts to win prizes such as dolls. Authorities ruled that these activities amounted to unlicensed gambling for property. The suspect was taken into custody, and the equipment used in the games was seized as evidence.

The crackdown was part of an effort by district officials to regulate activities at shrine grounds and prevent inappropriate behavior during the religious festival.