More than 40 Koreans arrested this year in Thailand over illegal gambling

Sunday 21st of June 2015

Thai police rounded up two South Korean men at an apartment in Klong Toey, Bangkok, last week, taking the total number of Korean nationals arrested in connection with illegal gambling sites this year to more than 40.

The arrest, in which police seized four computers, came one day after police raided a condo in another part of the city and arrested a South Korean man for running an online gambling service, the Bangkok Post reported.

Six busts have been made this month alone with 21 Koreans arrested. All arrests bar one were made in Bangkok. The other took place in Phuket.

According to the Bangkok Post, many of the suspects simply rented temporary accommodation and set up illegal gambling networks and services catering to South Korean gamblers.

According to police, Thailand is an inviting destination to run an illegal gambling website because of relaxed visa rules.

Police spokesman Prawut Thawonsiri was quoted by the Post as saying the number of South Koreans entering the country to run online gambling operations appears to be increasing.

This year's first bust of a South Korean online gambling gang took place in Chiang Mai in January.

Police then rounded up 13 Koreans staying in two rental houses in San Sai district, and a luxury condo in Muang district.

On May 22, seven Koreans were arrested for a similar offence as they ran a gambling service from two rented rooms at a condo in Bangkok's Huai Khwang district.

National police chief Somyot Poompunmuang said he has asked immigration police to carefully check South Korean travellers and asked South Korean authorities for lists of potential gangs.