Thai Police arrest 1,584 suspects for betting on World Cup

[webfact]

Police arrest 1,584 suspects for betting on World Cup
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, June 23 -- Thai police have so far arrested 1,558 suspects allegedly involved in betting on the 2014 World Cup taking place in Brazil, a senior police officer said Sunday.

As the World Cup enters its 10th day on Sunday, Pol Maj Gen Anand Srihiran, commander of the Royal Thai Police Office of Police Strategy responsible for suppressing gambling in the football competition, said in total, police have apprehended 1,584 betters nationwide.

Police have also seized Bt380,949 in cash and Bt498,709 bank account deposit books, he sand.

Most of the alleged betters and bookmakers were arrested in Bangkok, followed by those in the eastern and northeastern provinces, said Gen Anand.

Police also shut down 623 websites which allowed online betting for football, while they are preparing to close another 277 websites, he added. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-06-23

[The stuttering parrot]

No one arrested in countries where gambling is legal!

Just think of the tax the government could be making instead of headlines that come around every World Cup and will continue long into the future.

Get with it Thailand!

[NongKhaiKid]

I've got Uruguay in my local's sweepie, should I be heading for the hills ?

[bigbamboo]

I bought a lottery ticket yesterday. Does that count as gambling too?

[UbonRatch]

I bought a lottery ticket yesterday. Does that count as gambling too?

After 11 years here, I've never once bought a lottery ticket. I don't understand why some are 100, or 500 or 1,000 B., and I wouldn't know where to check the numbers.

Education for me, anybody?

[silverhawk_usa]

If my math is correct; 380,949 cash + 498,709 bank books, equals a total 879,658 baht seized. Divided by "apprehended 1,584 bettors nationwide". That's 555 baht each bettor. That's some high rollers they arrested.

[JeremyBowskill]

I bought a lottery ticket yesterday. Does that count as gambling too?

After 11 years here, I've never once bought a lottery ticket. I don't understand why some are 100, or 500 or 1,000 B., and I wouldn't know where to check the numbers.

Education for me, anybody?

checking the numbers is simple: http://hopes.glo.or.th/main.php?filename=index

Your other questions, I think this is just multiples of the same ticket e.g 5 for 500 baht and 10 for a thousand.

[ThaiAtoZ]

After 15 years in Thailand, I still do not understand the whole gambling issue! First, you have government ran gambling lottery tickets - which we already know are sold above the going price all over Thailand. Cambodia is raking in tens if not hundreds of thousands in bets and gambling activity from Thai customers. The underground lottery system has been running for as long as I have been here, and to be honest pays out better! Why does the government refuse to open up to other income opportunities? Does it take away money from the people who keep fighting gambling? 15 years ago, the United States has had online betting (with tax reporting) and every state had a lottery system and nearly all of them take part in a multi-state major jackpot system (Powerball as an example). All of these systems provided local businesses with income stream - but more importantly they provide thousands everyday to the educational system, fire and police, and other benefits to the community! Singapore has seen huge benefits from the casinos, as have every other country! Anyone with a half-a-brain can by-pass the Thailand's internet blocks for online betting - the same used to get around downloading porn, or even reading the real international news that Thailand does not want people to know about. Why take all this time and energy trying to stop something that could prove a positive to the public. Online and vending machines should have been in place years ago! If people want it, they will do whatever it takes to get it - regardless if it is gambling, drugs, or even prostitution! Legalize it, tax it, and stop spending money fighting a losing battle when you can make it a profit center to educate and take care of the people!!!

[vogie]

If any of the arrested bet on England they should be released immediately, they have suffered enough!

[marko kok prong]

Having seen how some Thai's loose everything on cards etc,and what big gambler's they are,i really do think the less gambling is available the better,not just in Thailand but everywhere,it often ruins lives.

[tingtongteesood]

Living in Thailand has been gambling enough in itself for the years I have been here, you gamble with your life everywhere you go here.....Glad the odds of getting killed have been seriously reduced in the last month from the previous 6 though. Keep up the good work NCPO.

[shadmo63]

After 15 years in Thailand, I still do not understand the whole gambling issue! First, you have government ran gambling lottery tickets - which we already know are sold above the going price all over Thailand. Cambodia is raking in tens if not hundreds of thousands in bets and gambling activity from Thai customers. The underground lottery system has been running for as long as I have been here, and to be honest pays out better! Why does the government refuse to open up to other income opportunities? Does it take away money from the people who keep fighting gambling? 15 years ago, the United States has had online betting (with tax reporting) and every state had a lottery system and nearly all of them take part in a multi-state major jackpot system (Powerball as an example). All of these systems provided local businesses with income stream - but more importantly they provide thousands everyday to the educational system, fire and police, and other benefits to the community! Singapore has seen huge benefits from the casinos, as have every other country! Anyone with a half-a-brain can by-pass the Thailand's internet blocks for online betting - the same used to get around downloading porn, or even reading the real international news that Thailand does not want people to know about. Why take all this time and energy trying to stop something that could prove a positive to the public. Online and vending machines should have been in place years ago! If people want it, they will do whatever it takes to get it - regardless if it is gambling, drugs, or even prostitution! Legalize it, tax it, and stop spending money fighting a losing battle when you can make it a profit center to educate and take care of the people!!!

Your ideas would be for the benefit of the community? More likely for the benefit of a small group of fat cats with a monopoly at the expense of the community. Unfortunately 50% and more of gambling revenues come from people with gambling problems. You've mentioned so many positives but completely ignored the negatives. If you allow unlimited gambling you inadvertently sentence a portion of the population to a life of debt and the social consequences of that. If anyone with half a brain can bypass the internet blocks then leave it as it is. Thailand has enough problems as it is.

[VINCENT2012]

1584 only ... in all thailand.. ?

if they come to my village (400 people), they still can arrest 30% or 40 % of the citizens , even the childrens here bet for 20 baths or 50 baths a world cup game.

this is ridiculous!.....half of the country is betting one way or another like every where in the rest of world....some for quiet a sum actualy, everybody knows that.

gambling is like sex you can never get rid of it....because people love it......!

controll is always better than prohibition and prison should be an extreme solution for that kind of matter.

Edited June 23, 2014 by VINCENT2012

[wabothai]

Nothing else to do ?????

[impulse]

So who has 1,584 in the pool for today?

Edited June 23, 2014 by impulse

[Hawk]

Wow! What an extraordinary achievement, catching people spending their own money!

I wonder how many police were arrested? None?

[puukao]

I wanted to bet thirty million baht that USA would win 25 - 1, but then I arrived in BKK, realized the laws, and bought some soup for 30 baht instead.

Unfortunately, I must get on a private jet for Monte Carlo immediately. They will take my bet for England to win the World Cup and give me great odds!!!!!