• 
• 

So far, after arresting 1,098 gamblers and bookmakers, police have located only Bt931,496 in cash.

"Gamblers can now put their bets online," Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman MajGeneral Ruangsak Jaritek said yesterday.

Euro 2008, which lasted nearly one month, ended early on Monday.

Ruangsak said the number of arrests made during the tournament was higher than for any other football competition. He thanked people for giving tipsoff to police.

Ruangsak urged indebted football gamblers to come forward if they have received threats from gambling operators.

"Football gambling is not a serious offence. Please come to the police. It's better than facing a threat to your lives," he added.

Police have received reports that some gambling operators showed up at a Bangkok school to demand money from a schoolboy.

"They threatened to assault the boy if he failed to pay the gambling debts," Ruangsak said, "If schools see strangers suspiciously ask to meet their students, please alert police."

Some children have reportedly run up nearly Bt100,000 in gambling debts.

Education Ministry permanent secretary Charuaypon Torranin said parents and children could also call her ministry's hotline 1579 for help.

Meanwhile, Law Society of Thailand secretarygeneral Sangiam Boonjan said police should have been able to track down more masterminds behind gambling operations if their crackdown efforts had been sincere.

"It should be noted that profits in football gambling are high. Some policemen may get some shares in the big profits and thus take action against gambling only halfheartedly," Sangiam said. "Only a few masterminds have been arrested."

Child Protection Foundation secretarygeneral Montri Sintawichai said authorities should educate children about the consequences of gambling.

"A crackdown on gambling is important but we can't ignore making children and people understand gambling's results, too," he said.