Bangkok Police arrest 4700 for illegal World Cup betting
Bangkok police have arrested 4700 people in relation to illegal sports-betting offences during the Fifa World Cup, according to local reports.
Almost 200,000 baht ($6000) in cash was seized, Police Major General Phanurat Lakboon, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said.
Betting slips showing cash flow of almost 1.4m baht were confiscated, and a freeze of 147 bank accounts with deposits of 35m baht for further examination was ordered by the Anti-Money Laundering Office.
Shortly after the final, Lakboon announced the closure of the centre for the suppression of illegal football gambling set up for the World Cup, but insisted the Metropolitan Police will continue its repression of illegal sports betting.
Most forms of wagering are illegal in Thailand, as the state only permits gambling via the state sponsored Thai Lottery and horse racing, but the wagers have to be placed on Thai land.
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