Recently, the police in Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand, successfully cracked down on a hidden illegal football betting den. The local special action team "ท่าเพชร assault team" joined forces with the police to raid a private residence on Kalong Lek Road, arresting a man suspected of operating the betting activities and seizing a large amount of gambling equipment and cash.
This operation was coordinated by the governor of Surat Thani Province himself, with the Provincial Defense Bureau and the Royal Police working together based on intelligence to target the residence. The police found that the den was specifically organized for illegal betting on international football matches, seizing 15 computer hosts, 20 football betting slips, and about 65,000 Thai Baht (approximately 13,000 RMB) in cash.
A 29-year-old local man named Sattaya was charged with illegal organization and operation of football betting activities, and he has admitted to all charges. The police have transferred him and the related evidence to the city police station for further investigation.
In recent years, the Thai government has intensified its crackdown on underground football betting, especially during major international sports events, enhancing monitoring and inspections. Experts point out that as online gambling penetrates social platforms and ordinary residences, future gambling law enforcement faces greater challenges, and more hidden gambling dens are likely to be exposed.
