Thailand is a beautiful newly industrialized Southeast Asian country. With around 68 million residents, this nation represents a very lucrative gambling market. A 2013 study on gambling found that an estimated 64% of people over the age of 15 had gambled within the previous year. Gamblers love to frequent casinos, play poker, and bet on sports. The only problem is that all of these activities are illegal under current Thai gambling laws. Illegal gambling in Thailand runs rampant and despite occasional large-scale busts, the authorities are seriously overmatched. There are several hundred illegal casinos operating throughout the country as well as illegal card rooms and bookmakers among other things. Players and operators of these illegal betting enterprises face significant fines and/or imprisonment but these penalties don’t appear to be much of a deterrent.
The only legal betting options are horse racing and the lottery which offers very limited options. Internet gambling is completely illegal but Thai authorities are far more concerned with their fight against illegal land-based operators and players than they are with recreational players that place illegal bets from the comfort of their own homes. It is very rare to hear of individual online bettors being prosecuted unless they are betting with illegal domestic sites.
It should be stressed that players who choose to place bets with foreign bookmakers are taking a bit of a risk. Nevertheless, tens of thousands of Thai sports betting fans take their chances every day. The biggest and most trusted brands in internet gambling accept bets from Thai players and many Asian-based sites even offer the Thai baht as a currency option. This is good news for Thai sports bettors who have access to the widest range of betting markets and it is great news for the foreign operators who are cashing in on the huge Thai gambling market.
What are the Best Sports Betting Sites and Bookmakers for Thailand?
Thai sports gamblers that don’t mind taking their chances have a vast selection of top-rated online bookmakers to choose from. Pinnacle, 32Red, Redbet and Vbet are among the most reputable internet bookies in the world and are favorites among Thai sports bettors. Punters love the betting bonus codes and money back offers are offered at 188bet, Triobet and Parimatch. Seasoned punters know that they can’t go wrong when they choose GoldBet or TLCbet and they love the fast action taking on Vevo Gaming among the elite.
Thai sports gamblers are urged to check out the in-depth bookmaker reviews at Gamblingjudge.com. Don’t forget to take advantage of the easy to claim bonuses that are waiting for you there.
It should be expected that a country with such a large population would enjoy a wide variety of sports. Muay Thai has been a long-time favorite here but soccer has arguably become the most followed sport here. Other popular sports in Thailand include basketball, rugby union, volleyball, and motorsports. Other activities such as tennis, golf, and badminton also draw a lot of national interest.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Thailand?
Thai gambling laws make all online betting illegal here. Authorities have conducted many raids on illegal domestic operations which have resulted in the arrests of both operators and players. Thai sports betting gurus that are willing to risk fines and/or imprisonment are advised to use established foreign sites. It is a rarity to hear of Thai punters being prosecuted for betting with foreign internet bookies. Still, Thai players that do so are taking their chances.
Are the Any Sports Betting Bonuses and Free Bets for Thai Players?
The Thai betting market is very profitable and online bookmakers compete fiercely for their slice of the pie. This translates into a lot of sports betting bonuses for Thai players. It’s easy to get your hands on up to €25 worth of free bets when you sign up with BetVictor.
If you would prefer to get cash bonuses then you are in luck. $500 in bonus betting cash is yours at SportsBetting.ag while $1,000 in bonus betting cash is just a few simple mouse clicks away at BetOnline.
These and many other awesome bonuses are found in the promotions section at Gamblingjudge.com. Get yours today and get in on the action.