Thai police on alert for devastated World Cup gamblers

[webfact]

Police On Alert For Devastated World Cup Gamblers
By Khaosod English


Police arrest online gamblers, 2 July 2014.

KANCHANABURI — Police in Kanchanaburi province say they are on lookout for a potential surge in crimes as losing World Cup gamblers are expected to seek money to pay off their debts.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup drew to a close in Brazil last night — or early morning in Thailand's local time — with Germany crowned as the world champion in a 1-0 defeat against Argentina.

Despite an intense police crackdown on football gamblers this World Cup season, many people still managed to bet on the games through networks of dealers that escaped police attention, said Pol.Maj.Gen. Kamolsanti Klanbut, commander of Kanchanaburi police.

"Gambling comes with gains and losses," said Pol.Maj.Gen. Kamolsanti. "Some people went as far as losing their life savings. Some will be pressed by the gambling ring’s organisers to pay up. Sometimes they pressure these people by sending henchmen to intimidate or harm them for the money."

He added, "The debtors have to do everything they can to find money, such as robbing, snatching purses, and transporting drugs for sale."

To prevent the surge of potential crimes, the police have increased patrols and deployed undercover agents at shopping malls, markets, grocery stores, and gold shops across the province, Pol.Maj.Gen. Kamolsanti said.

The investigative police will also compile list of known gamblers and organisers for surveillance measures, he said.

Pol.Col. Pongsakorn Uppapong, a superintendent at Mueang Kanchanaburi Police Station, urged all business owners in the province to make sure their CCTVs are in good operation so the police can track down criminals in the event of robberies or mugging.

The officer also advised all citizens to report to the police if they see anyone acting in suspicious ways.

According to data released by the Royal Thai Police yesterday, 4,720 people have been arrested across the country for charges related to football gambling this year.

249 of the arrested individuals were organisers of gambling rings, 128 were coordinators, and the rest are gamblers.

Over 34 million baht has been confiscated in connection with these gambling networks, police say.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1405330168


-- Khaosod English 2014-07-14

[Hawk]

I am devasted because I could not find anywhere to place bets on Germany to win.

[binnsy1]

I am devasted because I could not find anywhere to place bets on Germany to win.

You could not find a Chinaman

[LuckyLew]

LOL 4,720 arrests made during world cup .... WOW not very overwhelming

I used to live on a soi that had that many people making punts every weekend on EPL

[UbonRatch]

I bet there's lots of robberies, despite police work.

[UbonRatch]

"The officer also advised all citizens to report to the police if they see anyone acting in suspicious ways."

Well done!

[tubby johnson]

Thai radio stations and websites obsessively dissect the latest results from the Swedish 2nd Division or Bulgarian league. People will gamble on anything to make a quick buck.

I applaud the government for their efforts to rid society of gambling, but it's like herding cats.

[surangw]

why not go after the bookies ?

[Neeranam]

According to data released by the Royal Thai Police yesterday, 4,720 people have been arrested across the country for charges related to football gambling this year.

They were arrested as they were the police force's competitors. ALL the betting shops in my town are owned by the police.

[rubl]

I am devasted because I could not find anywhere to place bets on Germany to win.

Had I only known.

Last Saturday walking at Ratchawat market here in Bangkok, a few men carrying some advertisement board and many envelopes were actively selling some to Thai. Being Dutch (and manful) I suppressed tears and told them politely I was no longer interested.

[Tomtomtom69]

I am devasted because I could not find anywhere to place bets on Germany to win.

You could not find a Chinaman

Not sure what the connection with China is - this story is about gambling in Thailand. BTW in China there appears to be a legal method of sports betting. Have Chinese friends over there who were able to make legal bets.

Best place for sports betting is Australia, next time go over there and bet, forget about doing so in Thailand, too many risks.

[54321]

I suspect the inference was chinese like to bet and by finding a Chinaman you would be able to find a bookmaker. No mention of China.

betting on line may be a lot easier and cheaper than going to Australia.

I am devasted because I could not find anywhere to place bets on Germany to win.

You could not find a Chinaman

Not sure what the connection with China is - this story is about gambling in Thailand. BTW in China there appears to be a legal method of sports betting. Have Chinese friends over there who were able to make legal bets.

Best place for sports betting is Australia, next time go over there and bet, forget about doing so in Thailand, too many risks.

[noitom]

They confiscated the payoff money.

[Cereal]

Seriously, anyone who was stupid enough not to bet on Germany to win it all deserves to lose their life's savings. They were not only the easy choice, not only the logical choice, they were the only choice.

[glasswort]

I have no sympathy whatsoever for those that gamble. Have you ever known of a poor bookmaker or casino owner? Gambling is for mugs!!!!

[Tomtomtom69]

I suspect the inference was chinese like to bet and by finding a Chinaman you would be able to find a bookmaker. No mention of China.

betting on line may be a lot easier and cheaper than going to Australia.

I am devasted because I could not find anywhere to place bets on Germany to win.

You could not find a Chinaman

Not sure what the connection with China is - this story is about gambling in Thailand. BTW in China there appears to be a legal method of sports betting. Have Chinese friends over there who were able to make legal bets.

Best place for sports betting is Australia, next time go over there and bet, forget about doing so in Thailand, too many risks.

Gambling is illegal in Thailand so again nothing to do with China or Chinese people. If one does find a place to gamble here, it's being run by Thais and is in danger of being raided by the police at any time, or at least done in co-operation with the police. Online betting is also illegal in Thailand with most websites being blocked so Australia is still the best place to go as you can bet on just about anything, anywhere in the country. Australia is a sports crazy nation.

Otherwise, try Cambodia or Laos. Lots of legal places for gambling in both countries. In Laos at the Chinese owned Kings Roman casino one can find plenty of Chinese gamblers and bookmakers since 40% of the workforce there are Chinese, despite being in Laos (due to the Chinese government having leased the plot of land the casino sits on for 99 years).

Edited July 15, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[Johnnie99]

What? Buddhists gamble? That can't be true; Buddha said not to do so.

[kleelof]

I bet there's lots of robberies, despite police work.

Who will be watching the cops who lost money? I guess there will be extra 'helmet' stops next month.

[dude123]

I am devasted because I could not find anywhere to place bets on Germany to win.

888sport.com is where I bet on the game. Of course I got greedy and placed bets on a correct score for the

great payback odds.

I don't live in Thailand, but just curious, can farangs bet on the games on a foreign website if they reside in Thailand?

Edited July 15, 2014 by dude123

[dezeure]

Seriously, anyone who was stupid enough not to bet on Germany to win it all deserves to lose their life's savings. They were not only the easy choice, not only the logical choice, they were the only choice.

you do know that LOL has a different meaning in Thailand... Lack of Logic...

Many of the thais bet on Argentina... oooh Messi, Messi, .... the only name they seem to know there and since they can't pronounce any German names

easy money I just expected more goals from Germany

[vogie]

Seriously, anyone who was stupid enough not to bet on Germany to win it all deserves to lose their life's savings. They were not only the easy choice, not only the logical choice, they were the only choice.

We can all be smarty pants after the occassion. But well done the Germany

[VINCENT2012]

in my village (350 people)they could have arrested 70% of the men and 60% of the childrens because here all where betting every day, ...and a guy a know too.

what the hell...football is a fest of course people want to bet for the team they beleive in.

it worst a few hundreds baths, even if you loose.

in asia game is a strong habit...more than sex.

they will never get rid of it

[Malthus101]

To prevent the surge of potential crimes, the police have increased patrols and deployed undercover agents at shopping malls, markets, grocery stores, and gold shops across the province, Pol.Maj.Gen. Kamolsanti said.

Retarded.

Probably costs more to do this then just to pay off the gamblers debts for them. And who pays for the cops? Innocent tax payers who didn't try to make a quick buck gambling.

Edited July 15, 2014 by Malthus101

[asdecas]

How do the royal Boys in Brown recognise a "Devastated World Cup Gambler"? Might they not mistake a "Distressed Drunken Farang", or a "Disorientated Pothole Victim" for one?

Do they have meters to detect such conditions? We should be told.

[maximillian]

Seriously, anyone who was stupid enough not to bet on Germany to win it all deserves to lose their life's savings. They were not only the easy choice, not only the logical choice, they were the only choice.

My Thai wife predicted Germany to become Champion. She is great in football. 90 % of her predictions are right. She even names the player who will hit the net. Amazing.

Fortunately (?) she doesn't bet.

[Jip66]

My Thai wife predicted Germany to become Champion. She is great in football. 90 % of her predictions are right. She even names the player who will hit the net. Amazing.

Fortunately (?) she doesn't bet.

If my wife was THAT good, I would start testing her on the next EPL season, start off small like 100Baht (token bet) per game, once profits had hit something like 10,000Baht then increase the stalk money to about 500Baht per game, because by now your using the bookies money you won & not your own ;-)

[motorsaimang]

Dunno how most of the sports betting for football works these days, but when I was into it awhile ago back in Aus the bet was for normal time. With all the draws in the last few rounds I have a feeling the bookies did well.

[positiveaction]

Dunno how most of the sports betting for football works these days, but when I was into it awhile ago back in Aus the bet was for normal time. With all the draws in the last few rounds I have a feeling the bookies did well.

yes you are right unless specified, it is for normal time, though of course you can bet outright win any time and thousands of other variations.....however, that is mainly western style football betting eg william hill.........most street betting and online asian site favour asian handicap which give variations of .5/1.5 handicaps so a draw isnt such a win for those bookies as somone still wins due to hadicap

[positiveaction]

actually u can bet online right here in thailand with an asian bookie who will even debit your thai bank debit card.....but the prob is of course you need money to do that and a lot of he bets are done with out cash as debt ...therein lies the problem...well the problem in addition to be able to lose all your own money....

Edited July 15, 2014 by positiveaction

[YeaBiGgiEs]

Really?! As if there wasn't anything more important that people could put their energy/effort towards than a football (soccer) game. Besides isn't there a "World Cup" every year? FUHGETABOWIT!! (italian accent)

Perhaps people should be devastated over their countries politics, minimum wages and so forth...