Bookmakers will hardly worry about the police's vow to crack down on football gambling during the World Cup 2010 games.
"Some policemen have joined the gambling. They have never paid the bets. But if their predictions are accurate, they show up to claim money," a bookmaker said sarcastically.
Identifying himself only as Hia Lek, this 48yearold man said had the police really wanted to get rid of football gambling, they would have been able to do so a long time ago.
"Police must have already known all the bookmakers. They are all old faces," Hia Lek said.
He said with confidence that bookmakers for football bets were available in every community of big cities.
"Bookmakers' runners are all around," he said, "Everyone wants this job because it offers good pay".
According to him, bets on footballmatch results can also be placed via some Internet or gaming cafes. Money will then be channelled via big agents into key bookmakers in the Malaysia, Macao and Britain.
Hia Por and Hia Hor, for example, are widely known among bookmakers in Khon Kaen. They have connections with the gambling bosses in both Bangkok and overseas.
An informed source also revealed that there were six big bookmakers in Nakhon Ratchasima, one in Buri Ram, two in Chaiyaphum, two in Ubon Ratchathani, one in Yasothon, one in Amnat Charoen, two in Surin and one in Si Sa Ket.
In Roi Et, there were at least four big bookmakers. In Chiang Rai, at least three big bookmakers have close ties with local and national politicians. In Chiang Mai, 10 big bookmakers have busily accepted bets from students and adults of all professions including those working for the civil service.
"If you place bets with big bookmakers, each bet must be a fivedigit figure up. Your bet can also be in the tune of millions baht," Hia Lek said, "If you lose, you must clear your debts within two days".
He said mediumsized bookmakers would accept bets, each in the four or fivedigit amount only.
"Small bookmakers accept smaller amount of bets," Hia Lek said.