Meanwhile, the research highlights a complex network of individuals involved in underground gambling, with a hierarchy of influence:
Top tier: Major financiers, police officers, government officials, influential figures, and politicians.
Middle tier: Bookmakers, runners, and online gambling website administrators.
Lower tier: Players, bettors, and account managers.
While direct betting with bookmakers remains the most common channel (113.040 billion baht, or 68.9%), other methods are gaining traction:
Chat applications (LINE, etc.): 27.934 billion baht (17%)
Websites/gambling applications: 18.206 billion baht (11.1%)
Social media (Facebook, TikTok): 4.889 billion baht (3%)
The study also examined the detrimental effects of gambling addiction, revealing that 7.45 million people (21.6% of gamblers) experience negative consequences, such as:
Financial hardship
Selling possessions to gamble or pay off debts
Stress and mental health problems
Strained family relationships
Debt and Continued Gambling
A particularly concerning finding is that 1.67 million individuals have accumulated a total of 20.606 billion baht in debt due to illegal gambling, with an average debt of 12,335 baht per person. Moreover, a significant 85.2% of those with gambling debts continue to gamble.
The research underscores the pervasive nature of illegal gambling in Thailand, involving a substantial portion of the population and individuals in positions of power.
These findings present a significant challenge for the Thai government, demanding serious and sustained efforts to address this complex social problem.