Thai & Siamese Playing Cards

Background details in otherwise religious temple mural paintings frequently include scenes from daily life.

During the nineteenth century Belgian manufacturers (e.g. Brepols, Van Genechten) produced "Chinese" cards for South-East Asian countries including Java, the Celebes, Thailand and possibly China as well (Eugeen van Autenboer, 1976). They also tended to register suitable trademarks for Far Eastern markets, such as tigers, elephants, Japanese spearmen, ostrich, exotic birds and so on.

Van Genechten was the first to print this kind of playing card in Turnhout: he was also one of the last, having managed to keep a firm hold on his markets. It is recorded that 111 tons of playing cards were exported from Belgium to Siam (Thailand) in 1938. Thai playing cards in the 1930s had a minimum charge per set of 0.02 Thai Baht (2 Satang), which is the equivilant of a fraction of a US cent today. The Playing Cards Act, a law which prohibits individuals from owning playing cards was passed in 1943. This law was part of a larger anti-gambling crack-down which dates back to 1935 and which also prompted tougher Thai customs regulations for imported cards to restrict Belgian and Chinese imports.

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More contemporary images depict card playing in everyday life.

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Thai Gambling laws

The first indication that the Siamese government recognised card playing to be a form of the obsession for gambling was reported in “Gambling in Siam”, Straits Echo, 19 April 1918, Page 6  read here►

A further report about gambling appeared in Malaya Tribune, 16 September 1930, Page 10  read here►

How Siam's "Poker Fiends" May Play Under New Laws, The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 15 September 1937, Page 3  read here►

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Thai Playing Cards Manufacturing Factory established 1938

The state-controlled Thai Playing Cards Manufacturing Factory, Bangkok, was established in 1938 and today produces about 400,000 decks per month   read more →

The Thai Playing Cards Act, 1943►
Official Excise Department information page►

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Thai police arrest elderly bridge players in Pattaya

Thailand has strict anti-gambling laws and it is illegal for individuals to possess more than 120 playing cards read more►

For another story about gambling in Thailand, click here►

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Playing Card Related Ephemera

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Children’s Educational Cards

As gambling is technically illegal in Thailand, playing cards are slightly taboo and parents wouldn't want their children to be playing with cards. However, a number of educational sets of cards can be found.

Above: cigarette cards featuring educational topics.

Other Playing Cards and Card Games

Above: assorted Thai cards.

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References

Autenboer, Dr Eugeen van: The Turnhout Playing Card Industry 1826-1976, Aurelia Books, Brussels 1976

Christopher John Baker, Pasuk Phongpaichit: A History of Thailand, Cambridge University Press, 2005

Ministry of Finance, Department of Commerce and Statistics (name varies), Statistical Yearbook of the Kingdom of Siam (title varies), 1916+.