April 21, 2021
13 “rain gamblers” arrested in Battambang province

A group of 13 people, including a woman, who were involved in ‘rain gambling” were arrested by the Battambang provincial police on Monday.

“Rain gambling” is betting on whether it will rain and it also involves a gambling game where the bettors will place jars down at the Boeung Chhouk Market and when it rains, the water from the roof must flow down and fill the jars with the raindrops. The person whose jar fills first will win the bet by collecting money from all the bettors who lost.

The gamblers play the game via the online Messenger group, line group, Telegram group, WeChat group or Whatsapp.

This illegal betting has been going on for a long time especially during the rainy season. The rain bettors are people who are good at predicting the rain and the bet money for the winner can be anything between 50,000 riel (about $12.35) to 100,000 riel (about $24.69).

Police who got the wind of the gambling activities immediately swung into action and raided three different locations behind Phy Puy market in Battambang province on Monday afternoon and managed to detain the 13 gamblers including the woman.

After the arrests, police seized 10 motorcycles and four cars from the suspects.

A Battambang Provincial Court deputy prosecutor’s orders for the raiding and arrest was successfully carried out by the Battambang Provincial police together with Battambang Province deputy governor Nop Dara .

Colonel Chhoeung Kimsong, director of criminal office in Battambang provincial police told Khmer Times that the 13 bettors were picked up from their houses and are being detained for questioning.

“It is rather a very strange illegal gaming activity which is difficult to understand and we have been working hard to crack down o this illegal betting during the rainy season in Battambang province,” he added.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50842356/1 ... -province/

Battambang "rain gambling" explained; from the South East Asia Globe magazine:
https://southeastasiaglobe.com/gambling ... -cambodia/

Battambang police vow to get tough on gamblers
Khouth Sophak Chakrya | Publication date 18 May 2021 | 17:27 ICT

With the rainy season approaching, a Battambang Provincial Administration spokesman said the authorities would get tough on all gamblers – especially those who gather to gamble on rainfall – and enforce Covid-19 preventive health measures.

Provincial hall spokesman Moul Thun told The Post on May 18 that the administration is strengthening preventative health measures, and gatherings that breach government and health ministry guidelines are banned.

“Failing to support government efforts to stop Covid-19 already results in a penalty and gathering to gamble, such as rainfall bets, card and dice games is another offence. So, offenders would not be tolerated and and would be sent to court,” he said.

Thun cited an instance on April 19, when police raided gambling dens behind a supermarket in Battambang town and referred 13 people to court.

However, a few local media outlets have recently reported that rainfall bets continue in areas across the province, especially at Boeung Chhouk Market where a man known as Tal is a “high roller”.

They alleged that the authorities had only shut down small gambling locations but ignored the bigger ones.
Full story: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... h-gamblers

Arget wrote:FFS.....................So many things that could be focused upon to help the citizens of this country yet "they" choose to chase and arrest for rain betting.

“They” choose to do this to distract citizens from realizing that they need help that won’t be forthcoming anytime soon.

At least that’s my theory, anyways.