Laos authorities have continued their crackdown on illegal gambling with the extradition of some 41 Thai nationals believed to have ties to illicit casino operations. Reports say that the deportees were not the victims of human trafficking.
The Thais Had Crossed the Border to Work for Unlicensed Operators
As it turned out, the 41 Thai nationals in question were former administrators for gambling websites in Cambodia. However, the group later returned to Thailand due to the clashes along the border between the two countries.
Some time after that, the few dozen people traveled to the capital of Laos, Vientiane, passing through the Nong Khai border checkpoint. Once there, the Thai nationals rented accommodation and reportedly joined the illicit operations, serving three illegal casino websites.
Unfortunately for them, local authorities soon got wind of the operation in question. This led to eventual action against the operation, which, in turn, led to their arrests and subsequent deportations.
The Deportees Did Not Appear to Be Victims of Human Trafficking
According to the report, the group behind the alleged illegal gaming operation included 30 women and 11 men. The deportees were interviewed and screened, with none of them appearing to be victims of human trafficking, as can be the case for some people working within the illegal gaming sector. As it turned out, none of the 41 people in question had outstanding arrest warrants either.
During the interviews, the alleged illegal online casino workers admitted that they crossed the border in order to assume jobs as administrators for three gambling websites, namely Maha Heng 777, UFA, and 365.
In these roles, the Thai nationals worked 12-hour shifts. Paychecks varied between the three gambling websites the deportees are said to have worked for. Officials understood that Maha Heng 777 offered its workers 400 baht ($12) a day. UFA and 365 paid out paychecks monthly, with the former offering 15,000 baht ($425.7) a month, and the latter offering 18,000 baht ($543.3) a month.
In the meantime, Thailand’s own war on illegal gambling continues. In June, the country blocked thousands of illegal gambling websites in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Back then, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society reported that some 13,888 illegal gambling URLs had been blocked in the period from June 1 to 18 alone.
Laos authorities have continued their crackdown on illegal gambling with the extradition of some 41 Thai nationals believed to have ties to illicit casino operations. Reports say that the deportees were not the victims of human trafficking. The Thais Had Crossed the Border to Work for Unlicensed Operators As it turned out, the 41 Thai