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Crackdowns on Prominent Gaming Sites
Almost 700 gamblers held
Published on Jun 16, 2002
Police have arrested almost 700 gamblers across the coun-try and seized Bt1.5 million in cash since the World Cup finals kicked off at the end of last month, police said yesterday.
A total of 657 suspects were arrested, including 225 suspected gambling operators and 432 alleged gamblers, in 588 cases. Bt1.5 million in cash has been seized as evidence, along with computers, mobile phones and bank accounts.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau alone handled 331 cases and made 364 arrests, of which 54 were suspected operators. Metropolitan Region 4 Police made the most arrests.
The Fourth Region Police made the most arrests in the provinces: 71 suspects from 58 cases.
The Crime Suppression Police reported two suspected gambling cases through the website www.Thaiball.com. A separate case yielded nine suspects.
Arresting gamblers was made difficult by a lack of evidence, as gamblers increasing-ly used hi-tech and complex methods, said National Police Commission spokesman Maj-General Pongsathat Pongcharoen.
Police are paying extra attention to young gamblers when patrolling nightspots that show live football matches, they said. Some young gamblers had been arrested and their parents summoned to post bail, they said.
Police said they would continue to crack down on gambling until the World Cup ends, including gambling through websites such as www.ladbrokes.com, www.interops.com, www.bestdaq.com, www.willhill.com and www.88p.co.uk.
According to reports in Britain, which is home to the most Internet betting sites, Asian gamblers have already lost a massive £80 million (Bt5 billion) to British Internet bookmakers in bets on the World Cup, following the exit of favourites France and Argentina.
The Assumption University in Bangkok estimates that Thai gamblers will wager Bt9.1 billion on this year's World Cup matches.
Published on Jun 16, 2002
Police have arrested almost 700 gamblers across the coun-try and seized Bt1.5 million in cash since the World Cup finals kicked off at the end of last month, police said yesterday.
A total of 657 suspects were arrested, including 225 suspected gambling operators and 432 alleged gamblers, in 588 cases. Bt1.5 million in cash has been seized as evidence, along with computers, mobile phones and bank accounts.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau alone handled 331 cases and made 364 arrests, of which 54 were suspected operators. Metropolitan Region 4 Police made the most arrests.
The Fourth Region Police made the most arrests in the provinces: 71 suspects from 58 cases.
The Crime Suppression Police reported two suspected gambling cases through the website www.Thaiball.com. A separate case yielded nine suspects.
Arresting gamblers was made difficult by a lack of evidence, as gamblers increasing-ly used hi-tech and complex methods, said National Police Commission spokesman Maj-General Pongsathat Pongcharoen.
Police are paying extra attention to young gamblers when patrolling nightspots that show live football matches, they said. Some young gamblers had been arrested and their parents summoned to post bail, they said.
Police said they would continue to crack down on gambling until the World Cup ends, including gambling through websites such as www.ladbrokes.com, www.interops.com, www.bestdaq.com, www.willhill.com and www.88p.co.uk.
According to reports in Britain, which is home to the most Internet betting sites, Asian gamblers have already lost a massive £80 million (Bt5 billion) to British Internet bookmakers in bets on the World Cup, following the exit of favourites France and Argentina.
The Assumption University in Bangkok estimates that Thai gamblers will wager Bt9.1 billion on this year's World Cup matches.
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