Over 1 100 arrested in initiative to halt World Cup betting
Thailand has joined other Asian states such as China, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia in cracking down hard on the rising tide of internet betting as the football World Cup in South Africa reaches the final eight teams.
Police spokesmen report that more than 1,100 punters in Bangkok have been arrested in a series of drives against illegal football gambling since the World Cup began on June 11.
Over three weeks, police have also arrested 27 illegal bookmakers and 29 punt runners in addition to 1,156 punters, who made bets totalling Bt 3,434,960. A total of Bt 150,080 in cash has been seized, Bangkok police chief Pol Lt-General Santhan Chayanont revealed this week.
In the most recent raid, police arrested a university student for allegedly running a football betting operation through three online gambling websites through which he recruited local bettors and received a commission from the operator
After arresting Arthit Nakroo at his Bangkok home, police seized four bank accounts and eight ATM cards. They found Bt 12 million had circulated between his accounts and the three websites for which he acted as an agent. Authorities have since ISP blocked two of the sites.
A large number of punters, mostly university students, gambled through the suspect's operation, Santhan said, adding that Arthit faced asset seizure under anti-money laundering laws.
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