The Chiang Mai Operations Unit, together with the Superintendent of Chang Phueak Police Station and the Volunteer Defense Corps 1st Company, conducted an inspection of claw machine businesses at Malin Plaza in front of Chiang Mai University.
The investigation found that the establishment contained 26 coin-operated claw machines, one coin exchange machine, and two rotating doll machines, all in operation.
Officers asked the operator to demonstrate how the claw machines worked. When the button was pressed, the clamping system activated but failed to grab a doll. There was no automatic refund system or QR code available for a refund. All other machines operated in the same manner. These claw machines are allegedly deceptive, as the odds of winning a doll are unacceptably low. The machines were being operated without proper authorization and may be considered as gambling devices under Thai law.
The operator was then charged with an illegal gambling operation without permission. Officers seized 29 claw machines as evidence.
