Thailand's Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) is preparing to seize the assets of people who continue to run illegal underground lotteries, betting and gambling operations in Thailand from across the Thai borders.

Police Colonel Peeraphan Premphuti, secretary-general of the Thai Anti-Money Laundering Office, said that underground lotteries and gambling were not explicitly mentioned in Thailand's anti-money laundering laws, but AMLO could order the seizure of all illegally acquired assets from lotteries and gambling operations as it always involved bribery of Thai officials in office.

PM Thaksin Shinawatra said that foreigners and Thai casino owners in bordering countries were also running an illegal underground gambling operations and lottery systems in Thailand. He ordered urgent actions to stop those gambling operations.

Colonel Peeraphan said that a 3-week investigation by the Thai police and officers of the AMLO found that many Thai and foreign illegal lottery and gambling operators, running operations both from inside and outside Thailand had bribed Thai officials and police to turn a blind eye from their illegal betting systems.

Peeraphan Premphuti further said that all assets from gambling and underground lottery operators, inside or outside the Kingdom, no matter if they were Thais or foreign nationals, would be seized. The Thai law authorizes the Anti-Money Laundering Office to seize the assets of any person, Thai or foreign, if gambling offences affects Thailand, even if those gambling operations were run from abroad.

Many Thais and foreigners running illegal gambling systems aimed at Thailand, operate from abroad.