Thailand Authorities Arrest Hundreds, Seize Millions From Illegal Betting on Euro 2024 Football
In a continuous campaign against illegal online betting on Euro 2024 football (soccer), Thai authorities have arrested 64 people and recovered over 280 million baht (US$7.6 million), according to government officials on Friday.
The extensive enforcement went after wm88 and x-stand, two websites, in addition to other activities, according to Thai news source khaosodenglish.com.
According to government estimates, the two sports betting websites made 1.4 billion baht (US $38.1M) in income in just January and June.
Police in Bangkok found $3,200 in US money and 13,830,000 baht (US $376,460) during a search of a Thong Lor property.
In addition, the authorities raided multiple homes and seized high-end automobiles such a Bentley, a Mercedes-Benz, and a GWM Tank SUV.
According to officials, the valuables were valued at 22,580,000 baht (US $614,672).
Two Chinese citizens, Xiang Zhang, 42, and Zhang Huiqing, 37, were taken into custody. According to the news article, the pair informed authorities that their money wasn't from gambling but rather from the sale of a Chinese advertising company. They do cryptocurrency investments as well.
Another search was conducted at a condo in Bangkok's Phrom Phong area. There were 287,396,713 baht (US $7,823,513) worth of assets seized.
After the Phrom Phong raid, four Thai nationals and 36-year-old Chinese national Jun Xia were charged.
The article states that money laundering and unlawful electronic gaming are the charges brought against the main suspects.
There may be more arrests made.
1,826 Arrested Recently
The latest arrests follow prior charges that took place between June 14 and Thursday.
Of the 248 people detained, 28 were in charge of planning the illicit online activities. 220 other people were gamblers. Sixty-two websites offering illicit sports betting were shut down.
A total of 1,400,150,007 baht (US $38 million) was wagered.
Furthermore, illicit gaming was found at a number of physical gaming establishments. 1,578 suspects were apprehended as a result of it.
1,503 of them were athletes. Ten were runners, and sixty-five were bookies.
The official Technology Crime Suppression Division and the Technology Crime Investigation Bureau looked into the sports betting cases.
Potential Prison
Authorities issued a warning that gambling is illegal and that anyone who are apprehended will face legal action when they announced the arrests and seizures. This encompasses individuals who plan the activities, advertise the wagers, and engage in gambling.
Defendants may be required to pay a fine and serve a maximum of two years in jail if found guilty. If it is discovered that children were involved in the gambling, more sanctions may be applied.
