gambling
- Thailand News
Thai border patrol seizes illegal online gambling equipment
The Thai police intercepted a significant haul of computer equipment allegedly intended for an online gambling operation, marking a crucial step in curbing illegal activities along the Thai border. Border patrol soldiers and police seized the equipment near the Myanmar border in Tak province. The cargo was reportedly en route to Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo province, a known hub for…
- Thailand News
Influencer arrested for promoting gambling on Facebook
Police have apprehended Nong Noey, the ex-wife of the well-known influencer Keng Lay Phrang, for promoting gambling websites. She was caught at her home in Nakhon Nayok, having advertised these sites on her widely-followed Facebook page. Police from the Region 1 Investigation Unit executed a search warrant issued by the Nakhon Nayok Provincial Court at a residence in Phrommani, Mueang…
- Pattaya News
Gamble gone wrong: Pattaya rescue foils truck-held hostage drama
A Chinese national was rescued by Pattaya police and immigration officers today after allegedly being abducted and held captive in a pickup truck by a fellow Chinese gambler over a football betting debt. This incident unfolded at 3am, today, June 28, in front of a Chinese restaurant on Pattaya Second Road. According to Fu, the Chinese national, the ordeal began…
- Thailand News
Surat Thani police crackdown on Euro 2024 illegal gambling
Surat Thani police chief launched an intensive crackdown on illegal gambling related to the Euro 2024 football tournament to ensure public safety and prevent citizens from falling victim to gambling activities. The event took place outside the Surat Thani Provincial Police Headquarters in Khun Thale, Mueang District. The provincial police commander, Police Major General Soempun Sirikong, led the operation, emphasising…
- Thailand News
Poker tournaments are becoming more popular in Thailand
Every day, more and more people in Thailand play live poker. A lot of expert poker players from Thailand are known all over the world. There are no specific rules against playing poker in a real-life setting, but it is against the law to bet on card games, which includes poker. The Thailand Gaming Act of 1935 says that dog…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s big gamble: Mega casinos set to hit the jackpot
Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat announced that Thailand is on the brink of legalising large-scale entertainment complexes with casinos. The final draft of this ambitious bill is set to be ready for Cabinet deliberations within the next three to four weeks. Julapun revealed that 16 government agencies have already weighed in on the plan. “Their insights will be included as…
- Business News
Philippines intensifies illegal offshore gambling crackdown
The authorities in the Philippines have intensified efforts to shut down illegal offshore gambling operations amidst growing calls for a complete ban due to alleged connections to criminal syndicates. The country’s gaming regulator revealed approximately 250 to 300 offshore gambling firms are operating without a licence, a significant increase from the 46 legitimate operators. This information was disclosed by Alejandro…
- Thailand News
Triple odds: Thai gamblers back new three-digit lottery system
The Thai government’s decision to introduce a three-digit lottery ticket system gained traction among gamblers, who believe it could reduce illegal gambling. However, lottery ticket vendors are concerned about the potential impact on their sales and are considering selling fewer traditional lottery tickets. Following the Cabinet’s approval of a draft ministerial regulation to introduce three-digit lottery tickets, the Government Lottery…
- Thailand News
Gambling warning: Thai PM scores with free euro 2024 coverage
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin plans to provide free live coverage of Euro 2024 but warns the Thai public against gambling. Personally cheering for the English squad, he aims that the live coverage would stimulate businesses in local restaurants and bars. PM Srettha today, June 6, held a press conference at the Government House, expressing his satisfaction with sponsorship support in…
- Thailand News
Rocket near-miss with aircraft prompts safety concerns in Surin
Rocket fireworks narrowly missed an aircraft in Surin province on Sunday, prompting officials to urge pilots to navigate around them. The district chief denied the incident occurred in his area, highlighting a lack of clarity about the event’s location. Local reporters were alerted to illegal gambling activities at the Boon Bang Fai rocket festival behind a temple in Ban Jang…
- Thailand News
Thai govt rolls dice with integrated entertainment complex-casino
Thai Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat confirmed that the government-proposed integrated entertainment complex development will have a casino component that covers no more than 5% of the project area. This development project will not only comprise gambling venues and hotels but also other significant investment components. Julapun emphasised that the proportions per complex will be determined by the governmental entities…
- Business News
Thai Restaurant Association rolls dice with dream casino complex
An integrated entertainment complex, housing a casino, hotel, shopping mall, amusement park, and a variety of restaurants is sought by the Thai Restaurant Association. The association urged the Government of Thailand to consider constructing this innovative hub in a second-tier area, with the idea of promoting and selling local cuisine within the complex. Thai Restaurant Association President Thaniwan Kulmongkol stated…
- Thailand News
Samut Prakarn police dismantle major online lottery ring
Law enforcement officers in Samut Prakarn province made a significant bust, apprehending two individuals suspected of operating a substantial online lottery business. The men, 42 year old Boonreum and 48 year old Baworn, were arrested at a residence in the Bang Bo district, where evidence of extensive gambling operations, including Thai, Laos, and underground lotteries, was uncovered. The raid, carried…
- Business News
Maybank’s bet: Thailand casinos could hit jackpot, boosting GDP
Maybank Securities, a unit of Malaysia-based Maybank, forecasts that the potential introduction of casinos in Thailand with gambling facilities could yield an annual revenue of 187 billion baht, equivalent to about 1% of Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP). The forecast, based on an assessment carried out by Maybank’s gaming analyst and tourist arrivals in Thailand in 2019, anticipates the first complex to…
- Business News
AWC set to scoop jackpot from Thailand’s casino legalisation
Tisco Securities indicated that Asset World Corporation (AWC), a luxury hotel and retail centre operator, stands to gain significantly from the government’s plan to legitimise casinos within entertainment complexes. This move is part of the government’s strategy to attract high-spending tourists and curb revenue losses from illicit gambling. The government is contemplating the establishment of the first entertainment-casino complex in…
- Thailand News
Thai Stop Gambling Campaign criticises government’s plans
The general secretary of the Stop Gambling Campaign Foundation responded to a recent statement by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday regarding the potential establishment of an entertainment complex to address the issue of illicit gambling activities. The Thai PM had outlined plans for the Provincial Administration and National Security Departments to oversee the situation, acknowledging the existence of covert…
- Crime News
Thai gambling queen arrested for 76 million baht tax evasion
Police arrested a Thai gambling queen in the southern province of Yala for tax evasion, causing the government to lose more than 76 million baht in revenue. Revenue Department (RD) officers recently filed a complaint against 67 year old Sirima with officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD). The RD reported that Sirima secretly ran a gambling operation and…
- Thailand News
The state of casino gambling in Thailand: laws and reality
Millions of people are drawn to the excitement of gambling and bright lights in casinos in today’s world. The issue of casino gambling in Thailand is characterised by a difficult combination of legislation and cultural practices. In a country famous for tourism, why aren’t the gamblers being cater to, like Singapore, Macau or even Vegas? What lies beyond the law…
- Thailand News
Thailand’s casino odds looking up as House Committee wraps study
The potential of casino legalisation in Thailand took a significant step forward with the House Committee on casino legalisation concluding its comprehensive study on the matter. Senior figures from the Pheu Thai Party have revealed that the study’s findings will be presented to parliament in the coming week. The special House Committee, chaired by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, completed…
- Bangkok News
Poker tournaments gain popularity in Bangkok
Despite gambling being illegal across Thailand, Bangkok is increasingly considered as a world hub for professionals earning enough income and living the good (that is, relatively cheap) life. Like digital nomads or other online entrepreneurs, poker professionals continue to settle in Bangkok and other coastal cities for the exact same reasons. According to media reports from 2022, moving to Thailand…
- Thailand News
Thai police chief ordered to protect prosecutors in online gambling case
The national chief of police has been instructed by the attorney-general to prevent eight implicated officers in an online gambling case from intimidating two senior prosecutors, disclosed Prayut Phetcharakhun, spokesperson of the Office of the Attorney-General. In the previous week, Attorney-General Amnat Chetcharoenrak penned a letter to police Chief Police General Torsak Sukvimol, requesting him to halt threats from the…
- Thailand News
First challenge in 89 years to snooker’s gambling status in Thailand
The status of snooker as a Class B gambling game is set to be challenged for the first time in 89 years, as an agreement has been reached to propose its cancellation to the interior minister. This initiative has garnered support from the Billiard Sports Association of Thailand, the Interior Ministry, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), and the House…
- Thailand News
Russian roulette: Five nabbed in Phuket villa for illegal gambling and shisha stash
Officers from the Investigation Division of the Provincial Police Region 8 and Chalong Police Station yesterday arrested five Russian nationals for illegal gambling and the illicit possession of water pipes for shisha smoking at a luxury villa in the Rawai sub-district of Phuket. Officers received a tip-off that a group of foreigners turned a lavish accommodation in Soi Salika in…
- Thailand News
Thai influencer Sebow faces charges for promoting online gambling
The Thai Police Technology Crime Suppression Division 2 (TCSD), based in Thong Thani, questioned a popular 24 year old social media influencer, who confessed to promoting online gambling sites. Today the influencer, Sebow, who has more than 400,000 followers on her Facebook page, reported to Lieutenant Colonel Nipon Boonkeert, the head of TCSD 2, to provide testimony and acknowledge the…
- Crime News
Singaporean duo’s slam dunk scandal: Basketball match fixing duo hits the court
A 30 year old Singaporean man found himself facing an eight-month jail term for his involvement in match fixing basketball matches in Thailand. The scandalous case, unravelling in the heart of the Singaporean sports scene, involves illicit bets, secret Facebook conversations, and a plot to rig matches in the Thailand Basketball League (TBL). Poh Wei Hao and Koa Wei Quan,…
- Thailand News
Chiang Mai: DSI arrests woman in high-profile online gambling case
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a woman in connection with a high-profile online gambling case. The DSI today targeted a skincare clinic in the heart of Chiang Mai and apprehended Sasithon (surname withheld), who is linked with the bank account advertised on the online gambling website of the renowned AK47XXX network. The AK47XXX network is owned by the…
- Thailand News
High-stakes takedown: DSI nabs UFA’s online gambling kingpin in Thailand
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested gambling kingpin Pakapoom, a top executive of one of the three largest online gambling networks in Thailand, UFA. At just 29 years old, Pakapoom managed over 80 accounts, circulating more than 10 billion baht. The arrest was announced yesterday by Suraya Singhamon, the DSI Director. Pakapoom, also known as Diddy, was found to…
- Thailand News
Own goal: Chiang Mai authorities tackle covert football betting operation
A covert football betting operation was raided in Chiang Mai, with police seizing betting slips, cash, and computers. The operation was discovered in a nondescript terraced building near Tonpao Plaza, Tonpao subdistrict, San Kamphaeng district. One suspect was apprehended, who had a previous criminal record for the same offence. The raid on the illegal operation was led by the special…
- Thailand News
Thai police demand transparent probe into online gambling allegations
A transparent investigation into the alleged involvement of Suchanun Sucharitchinsri, known as Minnie, in running online gambling websites has been demanded by Thai police. High-ranking officers, including a confidant of Deputy Police Chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, are said to be implicated in the case. The call for an investigation was made at the headquarters of the Royal Thai Police…
- Thailand News
Gambling addiction fuels debt crisis among Thai manual labourers
The escalating gambling addiction among manual labourers is primarily fuelled by socio-economic challenges rather than personal enthusiasm for betting, according to social workers. Government agencies and NGOs alike are endeavouring to counteract this trend by offering rehabilitative intervention programmes. Pattamaporn Sooksomsod, an associate professor from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University, identified the root factor of such gambling addiction as…
