Facebook football fan’s foul play: Gambling page operator nabbed

Thai authorities arrested a 28 year old man in Samut Prakan for operating a popular football Facebook page with over 300,000 followers, which was found to be secretly promoting online gambling sites.

The arrest was made during a raid on a residence in Samut Prakan province led by the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), following an investigation into illegal content on social media platforms.

The suspect, identified only by his first name, Peeranat, confessed to earning around 50,000 baht per month from posting gambling advertisements since 2021 and now faces charges under the Gambling Act.

TCSD raided a residential property in the Bang Bo district of Samut Prakan province, apprehending Peeranat, the owner of a football-themed Facebook page with a substantial following. The raid, executed with a warrant from the Samut Prakan Provincial Court, was part of a broader surveillance and investigation initiative targeting inappropriate and illegal online content.

The page, renowned for its content on international football matches, results, and schedules, was found to have discreetly integrated online gambling advertisements, which prompted the authorities to search. During the search, law enforcement officers seized mobile phones, computers, and hard disks.

Further investigation revealed that Peeranat had consistently provided updates on international football to a wide audience, which had grown to over 320,000 followers within a year. Advertisers, including more than 10 online gambling websites, had approached him to feature their ads on his page.

Peeranat admitted to authorities that he charged 600 baht per post, culminating in a monthly income of 50,000 baht from these advertisements.

Peeranat’s confession detailed his journey from creating the page in 2021 to making a considerable profit through advertising, up until the moment of the raid, which was his first encounter with law enforcement regarding this matter, reported KhaoSod.

Following his confession, Peeranat was taken into custody and handed over to the investigative officers of the TCSD to face legal proceedings. He is charged with aiding and abetting in the advertisement or indirect inducement of others to gamble in games not permitted by the officials, as specified by the Gambling Act.