Ninety-eight suspects were arrested in less than two months of police action against websites offering online gambling, with bets totalling 1.9 billion baht in play, Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta said on Tuesday.
Mr Buddhipongse said the Royal Thai Police and Ministry of Digital Economy and Society cooperated in the operations.
The crackdown made use of information the public provided via a ministry Facebook page, “อาสา จับตา ออนไลน์ " (Voluntary Watch Online), and from subsquent investigation. The information was forwarded to the police Technology Crime Suppression Centre for action.
Between Jan1 and Feb 20, many websites had been shut down, with about 1.9 billion baht in circulation, and 98 suspects arrested, in Phitsanulok, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao and Bangkok.
The most publicised was the closure of gambling websites allegedly run by Siapo Po-arnon, a well-known internet figure, in Bangkok in early February, he said.