Thai police launches campaign against World Cup gambling

Thai police on Monday launched an operation center aimed at cracking down on an expected boom in illegal betting on the upcoming World Cup 2014.

The operation center will target online gambling, suspend licenses of businesses that accommodate gambling, and apprehend loan sharks and debt collectors involved in betting, deputy national police chief Aek Angsananon said.

Police involved in gambling will also face punishment, Aek said, adding that the center has sought help from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Technology Crime Suppression Division.

According to a recent survey, Thais are expected to spend around 70 billion baht (2.2 billion U.S. dollars) on the one-month tournament.

More than half the total spending, or about 43 billion baht, is expected to be poured into betting, up 17 percent over the year 2010, said the survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.