Thailand’s cyber police have arrested a 24-year-old woman in Chiang Rai for running an illegal online casino, as authorities continue to take strong action against internet gambling across the country. The operation is part of the national “Final Bet” campaign, which aims to close unlicensed gambling sites and stop money laundering.

According to the Chiang Rai Times, officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau and the Royal Thai Police raided a rented house in Pa Sang, Mae Chan district, with court approval. The suspect, Ms. Kamonphat, was found with a laptop and phone that were believed to be used for running the illegal gambling site.

Illegal Casino with Thousands of Users

Police found that Kamonphat ran a gambling website called boost4fatcash, which used local bank accounts for deposits and withdrawals. The site had over 9,000 users and made more than THB 5 million (about US$136,000) each month.

Officers said players could bet and withdraw money through bank transfers, making it hard to trace. Kamonphat earned about THB 15,000 a month as the site’s admin. Before her arrest, she had worked for another gambling group in Myanmar and later continued the same work in Thailand. She has been charged with running online gambling without permission under the Gambling Act and was taken to Mae Chan Police Station for further investigation.

Part of Thailand’s “Final Bet” Cybercrime Campaign

The raid is part of Thailand’s “Final Bet” campaign, a national effort led by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau with help from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Anti-Money Laundering Office, and Interpol. The campaign targets both local and foreign online gambling groups that use websites or social media to run their operations.

Authorities have been closing gambling sites, seizing money and property, and tracking illegal transactions. Since the beginning of the year, the government has blocked nearly 200 gambling websites and seized assets from networks with more than THB 10 billion in total earnings. Officials say these actions are helping to stop international gambling and money laundering operations. 

New Challenges for Thai Authorities

Even with these efforts, police say illegal gambling sites keep coming back. Many operators move their work to nearby countries like Cambodia and Myanmar or use blockchain systems to avoid being caught.

Authorities say they are improving their technology and working with other countries to stay ahead of these operators. A CCIB spokesperson said the crackdown will continue until all illegal gambling sites are shut down. 

The arrest in Chiang Rai is another win in Thailand’s fight against illegal online betting. Through the “Final Bet” campaign, officials hope to make the internet safer and stop more people from getting involved in online gambling.