World Cup betting sites busted by cops

GAMBLING: Police in Chiang Rai announced that 26 websites used for betting on the 2018 football World Cup have been shut down.

Sixty-five people suspected of operating the websites have been arrested, and 36 bank accounts holding a total of 73.2 million baht were frozen.

The operation was part of a crackdown on online football gambling in six provinces which began on July 12, said Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn, acting deputy director of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre of the Royal Thai Police.

The six provinces are Sa Kaeo, Chon Buri, Chiang Rai, Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Prachuap Khiri Khan.

Police will also close another 400 websites and pursue the webmasters for legal action, he added.