Chiang Mai’s Share in a 37 Billion Baht Gamble
Police are targeting illegal bookmakers in the Mae Rim district of Chiang Mai, suspecting that they may be part of a 32.2 billion baht gambling spree based on the World Cup football series.
A week ago, no fewer than 247 suspected gamblers were arrested in Bangkok, plus 7 bookmakers and 5 debt collectors. Half a million baht was then in circulation, said the Metropolitan Police.
The Thai Government have already restricted access 200 websites suspected to be gambling related, and plain clothes police posing as gamblers have been sent to many locations.
Fines for gamblers are normally set at about 1,000b with the possibility of up to 1 year in jail.
Editor’s Note: All gambling is illegal in Thailand, except the national government lottery and on-course betting at the very few horse race courses.
