Thai police arrested 13 people and impounded assets worth about 50 million baht from an online gambling network that targeted players in the country's lower Northeast, the Crime Suppression Division said on Monday1.
About 80 CSD officers carried out raids at 14 locations in Buri Ram, Chon Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani on Sunday1. Among those arrested were Nithithiwat, 53, and his wife Nawaporn, 30, who allegedly owned the network. They were apprehended at a villa in Pattaya while on vacation and both confessed to charges including organization of illegal gambling and money-laundering, according to the report1. Eleven other suspects were mule account owners, gambling website administrators and accountants, and some denied the charges1.
The network, known as Tee Yai 888, began in 2022 and was busted in 2023 before being revived with activities including football betting, baccarat and slot machines1. Police found transactions worth over 600 million baht through the network over the past two years1. Investigators said it used local bank accounts and e-wallets to receive money that was later moved to mule accounts opened by relatives and associates, with large sums left in those accounts until fully withdrawn1.
"The network laundered its revenue through many front companies including construction and car rental firms," he said.
Assets seized included 23 vehicles, 49 land title deeds, 46 luxury items and gold, along with 30 bank accounts and 29 ATM cards held for further examination1.
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Vehicles | 23 |
| Land title deeds | 49 |
| Luxury items and gold | 46 |
| Bank accounts | 30 |
| ATM cards | 29 |
What it means for players
Thailand prohibits most forms of gambling, and this case shows enforcement targeting the operators and financial infrastructure behind an online casino network rather than only its customers. The arrests focused on alleged owners, website administrators, accountants and mule account holders, which is where police said the money flowed1. For anyone gambling in Thailand, the practical point is that the accounts and payment channels used to move money to such sites are the same ones investigators examine, and the report states that transactions through this network ran to over 600 million baht in two years1. The wider legal position for players in the country is set out in our guide to gambling in Thailand, and the pattern of arrests connected to online operations across the region is covered in our review of enforcement against players.
What happens next
The report does not state court dates or the status of the 11 other suspects beyond noting that some denied the charges1. No further steps have been reported.
