DSI sets up centre to crack down on online gambling websites

BANGKOK, Oct 19 – The Thai authorities Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has set up a new centre to demolish online gambling websites, saying they generate more than Bt2.3 billion in illegal funds in circulation annually.

DSI Director-General Tharit Pengdit said online gambling websites are owned by the same groups of people.

Such sites are believed to attract Thai customers, for they provide sites in the Thai language and have opened bank accounts in Thailand.

According to Mr Tharit, website owners have casinos in Cambodia, and there are two major networks involved in the online gambling sites.

The first group comprises 25 persons in Bangkok and Thailand's east, owning 15 websites and generating about Bt4 million in circulation per day or Bt1.5 billion a year, with an average of 1,160 customers betting per day.

The second gang is based in Thailand's northeast in the provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, and Khon Kaen with seven websites available and some Bt800 million in circulation per year generated by over 1,000 gamblers daily.

DSI initially seized 103 Thai bank accounts belonging to the two groups with Bt7 million on deposit. The bank account owners have already been informed to clarify their status at the DSI and to identify the sources of their funds. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-19

Gangs of illegal gambling "dens" being busted. 7 Million Baht confiscated. That will help the infrastructure remodeling in Bangkok , especially the electric wiring. We can be sure that the money will be put to good use by Thai police "officials."

A quicker way to generate big baht windfalls would be to drop a lawsuit on any motorist hit and run perpetrators. Sue them for damages to Thailand's reputation, tourist trade, and Bangkok property. Defacing Bangkok public property with Ferrari bumpers and police weapons being dragged along the streets for 200 meters.

What a silly announcement

They know the sites exist

They know where they are located

So tell them thru the media "we are coming to get you"

Wonder if the owners of these sites will be home when there is a knock on their door??

Might as well say "Yo chaps, can please be home, we will be there soon to arrest you"

Thailand finest at work

Public huff and puff to justify their pencil neck public service jobs. 7M Baht? Not even a Friday nights take by the B.i.B. from bars and brothels. No one can stop gambling, is is millenniums old and internet bank transfers are pretty common. A Thai who gambles in Cambodia via the internet is no different to one who drives to the border to gamble in person so what? They are going to arrest all the hi=so's in the Mercedes on return or the buss loads on the way back? Really stupid mentality DSI. Get on with nailing the billions, not the petty cash.

Edited October 19, 201213 yr by asiawatcher

Legalise gambling and let the DSI get on with real stuff.

How dare they muscle in on the home grown industry. Pesky internet

You don't have to be a DSI officer to know where the gambling Dens are. Just ask locals and they will point out where those Dens are. Better keep the BIB out of it because - you know why.... Furthermore, you know WHY these dens are NEVAH EVAH closed down. If Gambling in Thailand was legalized - a lot of these people would loose a major source of untaxable income which allows them to have mia noi after mia noi and drive luxury cars their official salaries would never be able to cover.

What a load of BS....

DSI only takes orders from PT. How to trust this DSI group of jokers?

They have never investigated anything related to the PT government!!!!

Crack down of the week.......a little late however we got one

Crack down of the week.......a little late however we got one

Yes, an eleventh-hour crackdown indeed. What a nail-biting end to the week - one was afraid we would end the week crackdownless.

The Thai authorities Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has set up a new centre to demolish online gambling websites

I bet they won't...whos got the odds???

Online gaming sites - hundreds of them all over the world. Looks like they don't like competition with the gambling dens all over the country.

Agree that they'd be better off legalising gambling (it's already half legal with the lottery) and collecting a lot more tax revenue.

reading between the lines, its time to pay up or else.