Football Gambling

BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) Bangkok police have arrested over 1,000 football gamblers and bookies during the FIFA World Cup. The Metropolitan Police Bureau announced on Friday that during the FIFA World Cup from June 14 to 28 they have arrested 25 gambling website operators and two gamblers. More than 1,000 gamblers and bookies involved in conventional betting have been prosecuted, Pol Maj-General Phanurat Lakbun said in a press conference on Friday. During the same period, 16 celebrities and net idols have been prosecuted for illegal ad or endorsement for on-line gambling websites; while 16 more are being summoned for questioning. Since May 1, the Bureau have arrested 2,800 gamblers, bookies and betting websites, added Pol Maj-General Phanurat. They also seized and frozen cash from the suspects and their bank accounts worth around Bt27 million. On-line gambling is illegal in Thailand but it has become lucrative forms of gambling in Thailand given its easy access. (TNA)