Thailand: 253 more police officers linked to illegal gambling

Casino and online gambling remains illegal in Thailand, yet public officials have been found to be involved in gaming operations.

Thailand.- Authorities in Thailand are investigating 253 more police officers in addition to the seven officers already implicated for suspected involvement in illegal gambling.

An investigation has found that illegal casinos have been operating in the east of the country for a substantial amount of time, with 53 officers from the level of police general to police inspector, and 200 from the level of deputy inspector down to squad leader suspected to be involved in facilitating the operations.

Police inspector-general Pol Lt Gen Manote Tantrathian, the official leading the investigation, previously looked into seven officers suspected of being involved in illegal gambling activities. The group included provincial police chiefs in Rayong and Chon Buri.

Last month, a special panel also linked ten police officers and provincial government administrative officials to two gambling dens in the coastal city of Rayong.

The panel was established to crack down on illegal gambling activities in the county, which have been blamed for spreading Covid-19.