Anti-football gambling campaign ahead of World Cup

BANGKOK, June 14 (TNA) - Representatives of many organisations gathered at the Victory Monument to campaign against football gambling just ahead of the World Cup 2018. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation (Thai Health), the Defence Ministry, the Royal Thai Police, and other partners organized the campaign. Participants wore fancy costumes. There were some symbolic performances to present the negative impacts of football gambling. Campaign leaflets were handed out to commuters at crowded bus stops around the Victory Monument. Thai Health director Wichet Pichairat quoted Center for Gambling Studies as reporting that as many as 2.4 million Thai people gambled on football matches and their combined bets were estimated at 140 billion baht. He also said that junior secondary school students started football gambling and 82.6% of them continued with the activities. Gamblers usually bet more while final rounds were approaching. More new gamblers are expected to enter the circle in this World Cup 2018 and the young form a main group of the gamblers. Mr Wichet also said retirees and women were likely to be new football gamblers too because of easy access to online gambling. (TNA)