Punters to face tax, bank audits

[elef]

Punters to face tax, bank audits

 

Published on Jun 12, 2004

 

 

Gamblers may face tax audits and increased bank-account checks if they bet during the Euro 2004 tournament, Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana said yesterday.

 

"Punters should know that they are being watched. If they refuse to heed the government's warning against football betting, then they have to face the consequences," he said.

 

Assets gained from illegal gambling are subject to seizure under the money-laundering law and any earnings are liable for income tax, he said.

 

With regard to bookies based in foreign countries where football gambling is legal, Pongthep threatened to file corporate tax suits on money earned from Thai punters.

 

The Football Gambling Sup-pression Centre, a police task force, has dispatched a team of police officers to visit schools in Bangkok in order to raise student awareness on the consequences of vice.

 

Centre chief Colonel Suras Udomrat said his officers alert students about various tricks to lure them into football bets.

 

"Students are advised to stay away from betting and they are encouraged to tip off police if underground bookies try to contact them," he said.

 

Prime Minister Thaksin Shi-nawatra expressed concern that many people would fall prey to underground gambling rackets.

 

"It is very difficult to stop people from betting. Everyone should be involved in the fight against football gambling because law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem," he said.

 

 

 

The Nation

[Khun_Kong]

elef said:

Punters to face tax, bank audits

 

Published on Jun 12, 2004

 

 

<snip>

 

Prime Minister Thaksin Shi-nawatra expressed concern that many people would fall prey to underground gambling rackets.

 

"It is very difficult to stop people from betting. Everyone should be involved in the fight against football gambling because law enforcement alone cannot solve the problem," he said.

The Nation

 

Truly a leader with great vision.

 

Perhaps he has great vision because of his two faces.

 

Of course, I mean nothing more than he can see both sides of an issue at the same time.