Friday, May 26, 2006

As reported by the Electric Paper: "Thailand is going all out to stamp out
illegal World Cup betting. "Bangkok police put the city's bookies on notice
yesterday, announcing they have set up some 100 special units to crack down
on football gambling during the World Cup finals. "...'These special units
will boost the existing police work to effectively crack down on football
gambling by focusing on bookies,' the city's police chief Viroj
Chantharangsi said. "He also warned that police would be punished if they
failed to arrest gamblers.

"During the three-week Euro 2004 championships, a polling agency estimated
$814 million ($1.3b) were laid down in Thailand, despite the arrest of
hundreds of bookies on the tournament's first day

"...Thailand will also ban 'live' broadcasts of World Cup games in prisons
in a bid to prevent football gambling among inmates..."