Laos has deported 41 Thai nationals for allegedly operating online gambling sites from the capital city, Vientiane. The group was apprehended by local authorities and transferred to the Thai border town of Nong Khai on August 10.
Thai officials reported that the individuals acted as administrators for three different online gambling websites, working in shifts that lasted 12 hours, with pay that ranged from daily wages to monthly salaries, depending on the website’s specifics.
Investigations found that these individuals had previously been employed in Cambodia but moved to Laos after violent clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border interrupted their work and travel.
This deportation is part of a broader, escalating effort to shut down illegal gambling and telecommunications fraud across the region. In July, a major operation led to the arrest of 589 suspects involved in online gambling and telecom scams in Vientiane.
Earlier this year, authorities repatriated 307 Thai nationals in May and another 20 in July, all believed to be connected to similar illicit activities. Lao officials stated that their actions are part of a campaign to dismantle significant networks of online gambling and telecommunications fraud, sending suspects back to Thailand for further legal proceedings.
The crackdown on illegal gambling has intensified across Southeast Asia. In April, Thai police arrested Pei Min Si, identified as a major player in Myanmar’s online gaming sector. Reports indicate this network operated across over 239 channels with more than 330,000 active participants in 31 Chinese provinces.
China strictly prohibits online gambling and restricts physical casinos to Macau. Thailand also maintains stringent laws against gaming. In December, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul affirmed that his government does not endorse the establishment of legal casinos and would not advance proposed gaming legislation while he remains in office.
