E-money providers ordered to watch for gambling money transfers

[webfact]

E-money providers ordered to watch for gambling money transfers
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, June 10 -- Thailand's Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has ordered eight electronic money service providers to watch out for World Cup gambling money transfers.

AMLO Secratry-General Pol Col Seehanat Prayoonrat said his office issued the order to Thai Smart Card Co, ViA Card (Thailand) Co, Advanced mPay Co, Advanced Magic Card Co, PaysBuy Co, TrueMoney Co, Bangkok Smartcard System Co, and IP Payment Solution Co.

Their managers were ordered to report unusual money transfers and payments through their systems to AMLO. Failing to do so, the firms can be liable to lump sum fines of up to Bt500,000 or a Bt5,000 fine per card per transfer.

Col Seehanat also said online gambling turnovers amounted to Bt100 million-1 billion and that online gambling in Thailand was different from that overseas as it involved money transfers through e-money systems.

In countries such as Singapore and Japan, online gamblers used Bitcoin and virtual currency, Col Seehanat said.

AMLO will seize hundreds of bank accounts suspected of being used for illicit business, including call center scams and drug trafficking. He said that most were Bangkok Bank and Kasikorn Bank accounts. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-06-10

[hobz]

I don't get it, why is gambling high priority, there's no bigger issues to tackle?

[1plumber]

notice that these people are ordered to make checks but the prison officials are only "urged" to make checks that should be no less than compulsory. wow

[rkidlad]

Who cares?

If people wanna spend 'their' money on a bet then let them.

A lot worse happens here that people don't bat an eyelid to. Deaths on the road being one of them.

If authorities are trying to show how moral this country is then someone should tell them that ship sailed a long time ago and they were the c***s steering it.

[realenglish1]

If they cannot tax it they want to ban it That is the standard governments go by. Legalize casinos in Thailand and watch the revenues come rolling in . If you dont want Thais to gamble then open in Tourist areas and ban locals from going in to gamble.

So now what is the excuse. They will say it keeps away the dragon with 20 heads or something like that

[ChoakMyDee]

One of the reasons Thailand is so attractive is its "wild west" reputation and its relaxed attitude toward lots of sins. Prostitution is illegal but is hasn't stopped. gambling is the same. If they try to clean things up too much they risk shooting themselves in the foot by losing tourists that are attracted to those sort of things. If I wanted to live in a nanny state I would go back to my farang country.

[slygeeza]

be interesting when Thais understand how bitcoin works

[Paulzed]

I don't get it, why is gambling high priority, there's no bigger issues to tackle?

Exactly

[Paulzed]

One of the reasons Thailand is so attractive is its "wild west" reputation and its relaxed attitude toward lots of sins. Prostitution is illegal but is hasn't stopped. gambling is the same. If they try to clean things up too much they risk shooting themselves in the foot by losing tourists that are attracted to those sort of things. If I wanted to live in a nanny state I would go back to my farang country.

You will never stop Prostitution or any other form of sexual perversion in any country!

[myluckythai]

What exactly is the problem with gambling in Thailand. Why is it illegal? Don't they know forbidding it doesn't make it go away? there is gambling everywhere, wheter it is legal or not.

[ParadiseLost]

One would think there are many social benefits for both sides of the argument, but just look to Singapore (as does every Thai hi-so) to see the positive impact of legalising gambling.

There are negative impacts, mainly if they are uncontrolled. If there were state casinos in certain strategic areas the revenue, and job creation would be huge. One each in Bangkok, CM, Phuket, Samui and Hat Yai would be a good start.

One way to control access is to require all punters - foreign or local - to produce a passport, with international stamps. If a person is able to travel to other countries then they sure as hell should be able to manage a gambling habit.

Protecting people from themselves is akin to religion; as time progresses it becomes clearer that all religions are self-serving, and not in the interest of the flock at all. Do as we say - not as we do!

[rollrunna]

When i was living in Thailand... a certain online international bookmaker refused to allow me to 'do business' from there..... i quickly pointed out that they were advertising their business along side other online bookies on a Thai based site and could they explain.? .. They quickly reinstated my facility..... This has to be a grey area... if you are not placing a bet on a Thai sports event, or in illegal casinos, in fact anything Thai... you are not gambling in thailand...... If you make a request electronically to purchase a financial position in another country and that request is accepted or denied from persons in a different country... then that transaction has been finalised in a place outside Thailand... = Nothing to do with Thailand... I f from Thailand, i phoned a relative up in a different country and asked them to place a bet for me... then this has nothing to do with Thailand.....

I do suspect that Thai crooked nanny state is concerned that illegal money lenders and illegal bookmakers are corrupting their easily led population...