Laos deported 41 Thai nationals suspected of running online casinos from the capital Vientiane. The group was handed over to Thai police in the border city of Nong Khai on 10 August.
Thai authorities established that the deportees administered three gambling sites in 12-hour shifts. Payment varied by platform: some received daily wages, others monthly. The individuals had previously worked in Cambodia but relocated to Laos after armed clashes on the Thai-Cambodian border disrupted logistics.
The deportation is part of a regional crackdown on illegal gambling and telecom fraud. In July, Lao security forces dismantled a major network in Vientiane and arrested 589 people. In 2026, Laos handed over 307 Thai nationals in May and another 20 in July, all linked to illegal gaming or scam operations.
Context
In April, Thai police arrested Pei Min Si, described as a key figure in underground iGaming in Myanmar. The network operated across 239 channels and reached 330,000 active users in 31 Chinese provinces. China bans online gambling outright; land-based gambling is permitted only in Macau.
Thailand is also tightening its stance. Prime Minister Anatin Charnvirakul said late last year that the government does not support casino legalisation and will not advance pending bills while he remains in office.
