Over the course of decades the Government of Thailand allowed legal gambling dens. It was during that period that the Huay lottery was introduced from China and became popular in Siam. People started to gamble more frequently and a variety of games were introduced from foreign traders and immigrants, and gambling started to hit the mainstream. The late-19th century marked a significant increase in the level of gambling in Siam. Some gambling forms such as betting on cockfights, bullfights and boat races are native to Siamese culture. Local Siamese partook in more than 100 well known gambling games. Gambling has long been a feature of Thai society.

Nevertheless, illegal gambling in casinos (Thai: บ่อนการพนัน) and other forms of gambling still exist in Bangkok and some provincial towns. The Playing Cards Act prohibits private ownership of more than 120 playing cards without approval of the government.

The prohibition dates back to the Gambling Act 1935. Gambling, other than betting on horse races or the government-sponsored Thai lottery, is prohibited in Thailand.

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