High rollers cashed up for Cup
If a recent Abac Poll Research Centre survey is any indicator, the number of Thais gambling on the upcoming World Cup will reach at least 3.6 million.
The centre's director, Noppadol Kannikar, yesterday said he estimated the number from the percentage of respondents who expressed an intention to bet on match results. The survey covered 4,685 people between 13 and 60 years of age. Across the country, there are about 43.72 million people in this age group. "From our findings, we have estimated that the amount gambled on the World Cup around the country will be about Bt14 billion," Noppadol said. The survey was conducted between May 22 and last Saturday. According to the results, wagers ranged from less than Bt1,000 to more than Bt10,000. Businessmen and entrepreneurs were expected to be the biggest gamblers on the World Cup. Noppadol said he was concerned that an estimated 599,477 people were planning to be first-time gamblers on football results while an estimated 750,290 people planned to return to football gambling. The survey found that those who used to gamble more than Bt10,000 on football results often landed themselves in financial problems and disputes with their loved ones or families.
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