Long odds in online lottery fight

News > Investigative Report

Long odds in online lottery fight

Better educated and more affluent punters are placing their underground bets on gambling websites and officials tasked with stopping them are facing an uphill battle due to the challenges posed by the internet and what critics say are weak laws

Published: 5 Aug 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Spectrum

The multi-billion baht illegal underground lottery is spreading online, with punters able to bet 24 hours a day on both lottery numbers and stock market numbers around the world.

But police say there is little they can do to stop the betting bonanza as most of the operators are based outside Thailand _ many in neighbouring countries _ and are believed to be backed by prominent political and business figures. They also complain that the penalties for involvement in these illegal operations are too weak to be a deterrent.

The dean of Rangsit University's College of Social Innovation, associate professor Sungsidh Piriyarangsan, said the underground lottery was undergoing rapid change, with the ability to place a bet now only a mouse click away. In the past, gamblers needed a personal connection or word of mouth information to bet on the illegal lottery, but now it's simply a matter of surfing the web.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

amerman
Post : 297
Send message

Discussion 12 : 05 Aug 2012 at 16.0512
Post this to my Facebook
Who cares if people play the lottery in other countries. Its any easy answer. They selfesh greedy people that run the lottery in Thailand. If I had to choose a country to play a lotto it sure wouldnt be Thailand. Too much corruption here. Ask yourself how many times have you seen someone win really big here.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
commonman
Post : 211
Send message

Discussion 11 : 05 Aug 2012 at 15.3911
Post this to my Facebook
Gambling in Thailand? Can you spell endemic? The police unable to stop gambling? I thought they were paid not to stop it. Educated people gambling more? Anyone who has studied statistics and probabilities is not likely to be buying lottery tickets. I always say that buying a lottery ticket is about the same as just throwing your money on the ground.
Like dislike 5 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
geoffo
Post : 2,919
Send message

Discussion 10 : 05 Aug 2012 at 14.3210
Post this to my Facebook
We are asked to believe that while Spectrum can find 6 sites the Government cannot.

Further , we are asked to believe Chalerm's "war room " capable of instantly blocking any L/E or porn website or indeed any web site it chooses to shut down cannot block these.

We are further asked to believe that millions are transferring small amounts as monthly account top ups or actual bets to specific accounts and no one notices.

What do you reckon? seems a little odd don't you think.
Like dislike 9 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
whatajoke
Post : 1,767
Send message

Discussion 9 : 05 Aug 2012 at 14.329
Post this to my Facebook
Asians loveva windfall, you will never stop them gamblng, it's naive of the govt to think so, the 2 and 3 digit lottery was a good idea to deflect from underground lottery what a pity it turned out the govt was using the profits for a private fund.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
dao
Post : 4,649
Send message

Discussion 8 : 05 Aug 2012 at 13.158
Post this to my Facebook
I guess its more convenient than going to many of the seedy casinos the police pretend not to see for a fee every month .
Like dislike 16 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
jerrold
Post : 174
Send message

Discussion 7 : 05 Aug 2012 at 12.427
Post this to my Facebook
In all honesty....close by Thai people are held hostage 3 times a day by this so called "stock market gambling" thing.
Gambling causes misery and attracts more crime then there already exists ... not to mention the social misery already inflicted with these scams.
houses, cars, and honor are washed away in the gutter and for what?
A flush of "good luck" to be lost in the next minute?
There is something fundamental wrong with ones personality and THAT problem should be addressed first before even think about allowing gambling in society.
Anybody remembers things like , being happy (within life and family) and satisfied?
Like dislike 8 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
englishbob
Post : 2,342
Send message

Discussion 6 : 05 Aug 2012 at 12.096
Post this to my Facebook
Disc5 - Some people will always ruin their lives. But the majority of us don't.
Many people like a little flutter every now and again... But by making it illegal, these people are pushed to play unregulated, untaxed games with low rates of return.

Criminalising gambling doesn't stop addicts gambling. If they want to gamble, they will.
Like dislike 12 people liked / 0 people disliked this comment
Renaissance
Post : 1,799
Send message

Discussion 5 : 05 Aug 2012 at 09.525
Post this to my Facebook
The government could curb gambling, if it really, really wanted to. It could run TV and radio programmes and adverts continuously with stories and film about the devastating effects of gambling on people and their families. It could show the crime that results, the family break-ups, the unhappiness, the suicides, etc. The government could get the point across that casinos win, the gamblers lose, especially in the case of online casinos. Yes, it might impact the Bangkok casinos, but how sincere is the government in solving the problem?
Like dislike 28 people liked / 5 people disliked this comment
Ian
Post : 680
Send message

Discussion 4 : 05 Aug 2012 at 09.494
Post this to my Facebook
Only scientists and mathematicians avoid lotteries, ever wondered why? 555
Like dislike 20 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
englishbob
Post : 2,342
Send message

Discussion 3 : 05 Aug 2012 at 09.233
Post this to my Facebook
Want to stop people gambling online and abroad?

Legalise it and keep the money in the country. Thai people LOVE gambling. Stop trying to run people's lives.
Like dislike 40 people liked / 6 people disliked this comment

1 2 Next Last

Long odds in online lottery fight | Bangkok Post: news