Bookies and football gamblers arrested
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Five bookmakers and 55 gamblers were arrested with gambling lists worth Bt2.5 million and Bt23,500 in cash after the first match of Euro 2012 began on Friday.
Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-Gen Saroj Phrom-charoen told a press conference yesterday that MPB Division 4 had seized Bt2.1 million worth of gambling lists from three bookmakers and six gamblers, while Division 9 had nabbed the most gamblers – 19.
“Police got a tip-off that lots of gambling areas are entertainment venues that provide facilities for customers to watch live broadcasts of the football matches, while some are close to educational institutions and dormitories in areas under responsibility of Hua Mak, Wangthonglang and Din Daeng police stations,” Saroj said.
He said people who violated gambling laws would be jailed for a year and/or pay fines up to Bt1,000.
Pheu Thai Party spokesman Promphong Nopparit said yesterday people had complained that there were many gambling sites on the Internet. So, the ruling party would tell the Information and Communications Technology Ministry to strictly inspect websites to try to prevent football gambling, especially among youngsters. It would also write to the Royal Thai Police to urge it to seriously suppress gambling.
