An illegal casino is set to open in Bangkok with Hong Kong backing, says Thailand's former massage parlour king turned politician, Chuwit Kamolvisit. The key Hong Kong connection was a shadowy casino specialist he would only name as 'Mr Tee' who had extensive experience in Macau and also at the casinos in the Cambodian border town of Poipet. The main local partner was reportedly a former cabinet minister, Chuwit said. His claims were supported by the deputy prime minister and new Thai government vice tsar, Chalerm Yoobamrung, who said the government was keeping a close eye on illegal casinos under construction. He said the government was aware of a 'significant' Hong Kong investment in Thailand's illegal gambling underworld. 'It's like a joint venture,' Chuwit said. 'This guy Mr Tee, he has the international casino connections and the expertise. The local partner secures the premises and deals with the police and other officials. Mr Tee makes sure the security system, the computer and gaming technology, the lighting, the equipment and most importantly the croupiers, dealers, counters, cashiers and other key staff are all experienced casino employees. Because they know very well, if you have staff you can't trust they will rob you blind.' Chuwit, whose Rak Thailand Party shocked pundits by winning four seats at the recent election as voters registered a sizeable protest vote against the two main parties, has ruffled feathers and accounted for the police commissioner's scalp since his return to politics. This followed his screening in Parliament last month of video footage of a large casino in full swing, just metres from a major Bangkok police station. 'Police are getting fat off these casinos and it looks like I'm the only one with enough guts to tell it like it is,' he said. 'You've got high rollers, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, bok dang, croupiers in uniforms, computerised equipment, money counters ... but to police it's obviously all invisible.' The new casino was located about 500 metres from the Meng Jai intersection in Huay Kwang district - ironically the same district where many of Chuwit's former massage parlours were located. He said the casino was ready to start operating. It was one of at least four being developed with Hong Kong backing. When Chuwit told Parliament last month about a big illegal casino in Suttisan Road, Bang Sue district, the disclosure led to the transfer of three senior police officers to inactive posts, a city-wide crackdown and a political firestorm, which claimed the scalp of National police chief Wichean Potephosree. 'To fit out one of these casinos takes up to two months and costs around 100 million baht [HK$25 million],' Chuwit said. 'But ... they make a nightly profit of around 10 million baht.'