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Thai authorities have shut down a large online illegal gambling ring that targets the Vietnamese market. The authorities arrested 93 Vietnamese nationals in a raid on a property in the Makkasan area in Bangkok. According to the Makkasan police, the illegal online gambling ring raked in over 100 million baht daily, which translates to £2.3 million. The police also revealed that the gang used websites that provided sports betting and online casino games.
Raid Uncovers Active Gambling Operation
Thai authorities raided the property after noticing unusual activities, including the presence of many foreigners visiting the area. The police also reported that the foreigners were constantly visiting the area and that the authorities had received information about the heavy presence of persons visiting the area. The authorities also reported that the area had security personnel and a key-card entry system. On raiding the area, the police found workers working at the computers, and the screens had Vietnamese-language gambling websites.
Those arrested told the police they were recruited for the operation and were being paid 30,000 baht monthly, or about £704, directly into Vietnamese bank accounts. This also suggests that there is a team of employees dedicated to ensuring that the operations of the platforms are maintained at all times. With daily cash flow estimates exceeding 100 million baht, it is therefore safe to conclude that the operation had managed to become a huge cross-border operation before it was shut down by the authorities.
Vietnam’s Demand for Online Gambling Fuels These Networks
In Vietnam, all forms of online gambling are considered illegal. However, it is also home to one of the biggest black markets for online gambling, with operators who are not licensed. Players in Vietnam are said to spend between $5 billion and $10 billion annually on these platforms. This business has proven to be very profitable for gaming networks like the one that got shut down in Bangkok.
The arrests have shown that Thailand is emerging as a new hub for illicit gaming networks, with operations being conducted in the Vietnam market and others. This is because the operators have set up in rented houses with basic security. The gaming networks have been recruiting their employees from the very markets they are operating in, providing their services to the customers in their own language. In the case of Vietnam, the country has very strict laws regarding gambling, and most of the players have shifted to the illicit market.
Land-Based Casinos Advance in Vietnam
Although the country has not yet allowed its citizens to gamble in the online gaming market, Vietnam has now allowed the locals to participate in the country’s land-based casinos through a pilot scheme. The effort, now in its later stages, lets Vietnamese citizens access select resorts that were previously restricted to foreigners. In November, the government approved entry for locals at Grand Ho Tram resort and the upcoming Van Don integrated resort as part of a 5-year trial.
The Corona Resort and Casino has been the first to pilot the inclusion of locals to the gaming market in Vietnam, and they have now been granted permanent approval to allow the locals to participate in the gaming market.
Thus, after a six-year pilot period, interrupted briefly by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the local scene is now ready to plunge into the gaming market. To do so, one must show they are financially sound, since it costs VND 2.5 million (£71.72) for a 24-hour pass and VND 50 million (£1,434) for a 30-day pass. As it expands, it may rewrite the script for the integration of gaming into the tourism and entertainment infrastructure of the country.
Source: iGaming Expert
