Four people have been arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, for allegedly operating a gambling website, with a raid having taken place by police.
The Nation, which is a Thai-based publisher, is reporting that officers carrying search warrants “raided a luxury house in Soi Lat Phrao 87 and arrested four Chinese nationals who had entered the kingdom on 60-day visas for tourism and short-term business travel.”
A total of four computers and eight mobile phones were confiscated by investigators, with the suspects reportedly having later changed their visa types to those for students at a Buddhist university.
According to the publisher, “Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, chief of the Tourist Police Bureau, said the operation was part of the Royal Thai Police crackdown on foreigners who entered Thailand illegally or have been using the kingdom as base for illegal activities, especially those backed by transnational crime organisations.”
The suspects are alleged to have been working as administrators and programmers for several gambling websites of the same network.
Chinese nationals suspected of working for a gambling website in Thailand
The country has long had a ban on gambling, with only certain vertices being allowed like state-controlled horse racing and the official lottery.
However, this could soon be set to change as it was on January 13 when the Thailand cabinet gave approval to a draft law that would see gambling and casinos legalized within the country.
The draft law has now been passed on to parliament where it will be discussed and deliberated on, with further approval needed before it can come into effect.
Imagine a Thailand where gambling is no longer underground. With plans to legalise casinos and introduce entertainment complexes, the government is betting on a high-stakes strategy to attract tourists and unlock a new source of national income. The question is: can they strike… pic.twitter.com/unp71GSDnT
— Bangkok Post (@BangkokPostNews) January 6, 2025
If passed, the country could introduce Singaporean-style integrated resorts which feature casinos. In Thailand, the resorts would include at least four non-gaming attractions like hotels, stadiums, concert halls, restaurants, theme parks, clubs, and retail corridors.
An entrance fee would be implemented for Thai citizens who wish to access the casino. It’s hoped that this project will stimulate the economy and tourism in the country.
Featured Image: Credit to Milei.vencel on Wikimedia Commons
