ICT Ministry bets it can reduce World Cup gambling

By Asina Pornwasin

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Information and Communications Technology Ministry plans to reduce online betting during the World Cup to 3040 per cent of online gambling transactions.

The ministry is collaborating with the Royal Thai Police, the Culture Ministry and the Education Ministry in a bid to prevent Thais from making use of online gambling technology during the tournament, new ICT Minister Juti Krairerk said yesterday.

During his first two days on the job, Juti's ministry blocked 246 gambling websites on both local and international servers. The Royal Thai Police will levy charges against local websites offering online gambling.

Moreover, TOT, a state agency under the ministry, will monitor telephone numbers that have been flagged for undergoing unusually heavy use during the tournament, in order to determine whether they are being used for gambling.

The ministry said 80.7 per cent of the population was involved in gambling during the 2006 World Cup.

Juti asked the public to help prevent World Cup gambling by informing officials of any suspicious activity by calling a special 1212 hotline or emailing [email protected].

"Apart from gambling websites, the ministry also monitors lesemajeste and terrorismrelated sites. More than 50 Justice Ministry officials with expertise in both technology and law enforcement, especially computer crime, are supporting our ministry's team," Juti said.

He said the two main goals were to prevent access to online gambling sources and create awareness about the harm caused by gambling.

The ministry will use four main strategies to achieve these goals. They are 24hour online monitoring by its Internet Security Operations Centre, forming a committee to review this monitoring and report to the minister every three days, fostering awareness of the harm caused by online gambling and urging the public to make use of the hotline and email address.

Juti said he would focus on the government's mission and main policies for the remainder of the government's 18month term and not formulate new ICT policies.

"I personally would like to emphasise 'IT' more than 'C' or telecommunications, but everyone wants to ask me about 'C'. I think this ministry has a huge benefit in that so many people want to be involved. Myself, I'm not going to set any ambitious policies or missions, because I think it's entirely possible the government could decide to step down before its term expires," Juti said.

-- The Nation 2010-06-12

If 80.7% of the population wants to bet, just possibly, it should be legal?

Wanna BET

An idiotic policy they have more chance of stopping people breathing!

The Lottery

The two horse racing tracks in Bangkok

Chicken fighting

Mua Thai

Investing in the stock market

oh yes and riding your motorcycle during songkran

With the exception of the last i would assume the rest are just spectator

sports.

Politicians doing stupid stuff. As usual. It won't stop any betting, of course, I am not even sure it's popular with anyone (everyone knows this isn't going to do anything, no?). You have to wonder why they bother? Anyway complete waste of time...

If 80.7% of the population wants to bet, just possibly, it should be legal?

:rolleyes:I bet you 550 baht they dont stop gambling! did you see Abhisit is not supporting England but Argentina!!! Showing his true colours now I cant say I'm surprised he cheats in everything else so why not turn his back on the country that supported him for so long! I trust this man as far as I can throw him call Thaksin a cheat and unloyal take a look at the PM!!!!!

:bah:I say again ARGENTINA! For fxxcks"] sake!

If 80.7% of the population wants to bet, just possibly, it should be legal?

:rolleyes:I bet you 550 baht they dont stop gambling! did you see Abhisit is not supporting England but Argentina!!! Showing his true colours now I cant say I'm surprised he cheats in everything else so why not turn his back on the country that supported him for so long! I trust this man as far as I can throw him call Thaksin a cheat and unloyal take a look at the PM!!!!!

:bah:I say again ARGENTINA! For fxxcks"] sake!

you are asking for it.

4 minutes of history everybody in my generation seems to remember. everybody likes it. always good to make new friends during times like a world cup.

Edited June 12, 201016 yr by mazeltov

I'm in the minority that don't bet, and am thinking there should be many more than19.3 per cent that don't.

Did you notice , even the ministry is BETTING it can reduce betting , wonder what its stake is ?