With the wet season fast approaching, the annual revi-val of rain betting – forbidden wagers on when relief will arrive – landed 11 villagers in the Battambang provincial court yesterday. 

The alleged gamblers had been unearthed by an investigation that led to raids on gambling dens on Sunday, provincial deputy police chief Chet Vanny said yesterday.

“We sent them and the evidence to the court to fine them according to legal procedures, make them promise [to stop], give advice and education,” he said, adding that police had also seized 19 motorbikes.

Chet Vanny acknowledged that betting on rain was endemic in Battambang province, but said authorities were tackling the problem.

Sun Toek, Battambang co-ordinator for the rights group Licadho, said people in almost every corner of the province illegally bet on just about anything, including rain, cock fighting and the Cambodian game known as A’paong, which is similar to dice.