Thailand’s military government has launched a fresh offensive on the country’s sprawling gambling black market, arresting more than 1,600 people in raids on 675 illegal betting Web sites.
“People are still trying to access gambling Web sites so we’re locating those Web sites and shutting them down,” a police spokesman told Reuters.
Legal gambling in heavily Buddhist Thailand is limited to horseracing and the national lottery, but the restrictions are regularly evaded, either legally in the popular casinos on the Cambodian side of the border or illegally via underground casinos and bookmakers. Betting on sports—on “Muay Thai” (Thai boxing) and other events—which is similarly prohibited, draws especially large volumes. Thais are expected to spend around 45 billion baht (US$1.4 billion) betting on the 2014 World Cup, according to the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
“This tournament only happens every four years, so Thais take advantage of the occasion,” said Thanawat Polvichai, director of the university’s Center for Economic and Business Forecasting. “People’s salaries are higher than four years ago and soccer betting has become easier due to higher Internet penetration.”
Around 95% of Thailand’s population is Buddhist and religion is considered an essential pillar of society, but junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha says the country has lost its moral compass and he wants to “return morality to Thailand”. The junta, which took power in a bloodless coup last month, has embarked on a campaign to “clean up society,” cracking down on activities such as drug-taking and gambling. Several high-profile gambling busts have been reported in the run-up to the World Cup, as has been the case across East and Southeast Asia.
“Thais are quite addicted to gambling and the World Cup is a period when gambling spikes,” the police spokesman told Reuters.
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