World Cup gambling to move abroad, online
WICHAYAN BOONCHOTE
Bangkok Post
Saturday June 03, 2006
Bookmakers and punters are trying to stay one step ahead of the police drive to suppress gambling on matches during the forthcoming football World Cup by relocating their activities to nearby countries and the Internet. A major bookmaker in Hat Yai said it was a lucrative business, based on the experience he has had accepting bets during previous World Cups and European championships.
''But many bookmakers in Hat Yai have moved to Cambodia for the forthcoming World Cup to escape a crackdown being launched against them,'' he said.
The present police officers in the district, especially their chief, have not welcomed any friendly approaches from bookmakers although some of the bookies have tried to bribe them, he said.
''Police do not receive any bribe money now ... There are only 10-20 bookmakers left, down from 50-60, and they make their operations as secret as possible,'' said the bookmaker, Joe.
Bookmakers used to pay local police 30,000-100,000 baht a month, depending on their rank, to secure their illicit business during World Cups.
''They would book hotel rooms there for a month. That's not expensive, and they would operate freely from there. Even serious football gamblers would stay there for a month,'' he said.
Anant Sabai, deputy manager of the Chamoir Member Club cocktail lounge in Hat Yai, said gamblers gathering in the southern district were mostly placing their bets with major bookmakers in Singapore to avoid arrest, as gambling is legal there.
He said entertainment venues, hotels, and restaurants in Hat Yai were eagerly awaiting gamblers and using big screens and lucky draws with prizes like TVs, motorcycles and refrigerators to lure them.
Cyberspace is also a paradise for football gamblers, especially youngsters. Bookmakers say 60% of gamblers now place their bets and transfer money online because the system is more secure. Neither the bookmakers or the clients can be easily caught as they can change their passwords whenever they want.
Popular instant messaging is another channel for Internet-based gambling.
Pol Col Pho Suaysuwan, police chief in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province, is determined to minimise football gambling during the month-long competition.
The district has been a centre for gamblers, including locals and visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
''I announce that I will never allow anyone to gamble. There will not be any green light or yellow light for anybody,'' he said.
Pol Col Pho has ordered his staff to keep campaigning against football gambling and to make frequent visits to gambling-prone areas such as entertainment venues which are preparing to draw customers by broadcasting live World Cup matches on their giant television screens.
The chief has also opened PO Box No.191 and the www.hatyaipolice.com website to receive complaints against football gambling.
The Mental Health Department and an Abac Poll found in a recent joint public survey that more than 800,000 Thais will gamble during the World Cup, and the money wagered would exceed two billion baht. However, the National Police Office believes the figure will be much higher, saying even the money gambled during the European Championship in 2004 exceeded 32 billion baht.
''But many bookmakers in Hat Yai have moved to Cambodia for the forthcoming World Cup to escape a crackdown being launched against them,'' he said.
The present police officers in the district, especially their chief, have not welcomed any friendly approaches from bookmakers although some of the bookies have tried to bribe them, he said.
''Police do not receive any bribe money now ... There are only 10-20 bookmakers left, down from 50-60, and they make their operations as secret as possible,'' said the bookmaker, Joe.
Bookmakers used to pay local police 30,000-100,000 baht a month, depending on their rank, to secure their illicit business during World Cups.
''They would book hotel rooms there for a month. That's not expensive, and they would operate freely from there. Even serious football gamblers would stay there for a month,'' he said.
Anant Sabai, deputy manager of the Chamoir Member Club cocktail lounge in Hat Yai, said gamblers gathering in the southern district were mostly placing their bets with major bookmakers in Singapore to avoid arrest, as gambling is legal there.
He said entertainment venues, hotels, and restaurants in Hat Yai were eagerly awaiting gamblers and using big screens and lucky draws with prizes like TVs, motorcycles and refrigerators to lure them.
Cyberspace is also a paradise for football gamblers, especially youngsters. Bookmakers say 60% of gamblers now place their bets and transfer money online because the system is more secure. Neither the bookmakers or the clients can be easily caught as they can change their passwords whenever they want.
Popular instant messaging is another channel for Internet-based gambling.
Pol Col Pho Suaysuwan, police chief in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province, is determined to minimise football gambling during the month-long competition.
The district has been a centre for gamblers, including locals and visitors from Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.
''I announce that I will never allow anyone to gamble. There will not be any green light or yellow light for anybody,'' he said.
Pol Col Pho has ordered his staff to keep campaigning against football gambling and to make frequent visits to gambling-prone areas such as entertainment venues which are preparing to draw customers by broadcasting live World Cup matches on their giant television screens.
The chief has also opened PO Box No.191 and the www.hatyaipolice.com website to receive complaints against football gambling.
The Mental Health Department and an Abac Poll found in a recent joint public survey that more than 800,000 Thais will gamble during the World Cup, and the money wagered would exceed two billion baht. However, the National Police Office believes the figure will be much higher, saying even the money gambled during the European Championship in 2004 exceeded 32 billion baht.
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