Gambler denies he is working for the government
Well-known gambling tycoon Apirak “Sia Poh” Chai-anon on Friday (August 28) denied having anything to do with a task force set up to tackle online gambling after photographs of him participating in a meeting with the House committee on legal affairs, justice and human rights were published on Thursday.
Apirak was reportedly invited by Palang Pracharat Party MP Arun Sawasdee to advice the task force as he has earned a name for himself for being a successful gambler in international casinos.
“Don’t be jealous. The government invited me to find a way of bringing money into the country. I will accept the position of adviser, but will not get into politics. I will also not act like stupid online influencers, who believe they’re smart and want to be powerful in the country for their own benefit,” he said in a Facebook post.
News that the ruling party had appointed Apirak and another possible gambling tycoon Pol Lt-Colonel Santhana Prayoonrat to advise the task force on tackling online gambling issues created a furore on Thai social media.
Many netizens raised questions as to why the government would appoint gamblers.
However, Apirak later posted another message saying he did not accept the job as he does not know how to handle such a task and that the media must have made a mistake.