Saturday, December 02, 2006

Lottery crackdown at Cambodian border [by Thailand]

Bangkok Post

Authorities increased security at a popular Thai-Cambodian border crossing in Surin province to prevent illegal lottery dealers from shifting operations after the government temporarily suspended lottery sales in Thailand.

Police and soldiers were moved to the border to tighten the checkpoint at Kap Choeng district to prevent gambling touts from crossing into Thailand to entice Thais to play illegal lotteries at a casino or a hotel room in Cambodia.

A few hotels offering casinos in Cambodia such as the Royal Hill Resort assured the Thai authorities that they do not support lottery play from Thailand. They said they also asked for cooperation from customers not to use their hotel rooms to offer such service.

The government yesterday withdrew a controversial bill to legalise the two- and three- digit lottery from consideration by the National Legislative Assembly, claiming that it lacked measures to protect children from gambling.

The government did not set a date when an amended bill might be considered. There was no hint of how a law could prevent children from participating.

The last seven-digit lottery draw of the year occurred this afternoon.

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