Thai Political Party Accused of Using Gambling Money for MPs’ Monthly Top-Ups
Thai Political Party Accused of Using Gambling Money for MPs’ Monthly Top-Ups
BANGKOK, October 26, 2026 — Thai cyber police are investigating allegations that an unnamed political party used money from an online gambling website to pay members of parliament (MPs) an additional 400,000 baht each per month.
The allegations were raised in a Facebook post by an unnamed former politician, who claimed the funds originated from a gambling website previously targeted and blocked by Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE).
Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau commissioner Pol Lt Gen Thingkorn Rangmat said on October 25 that investigators were gathering evidence and examining potentially suspicious financial transactions.
Police Trace Suspected Money Trail
Thingkorn said the investigation would determine whether the alleged payments were genuinely linked to online gambling activities or came from another source.
Investigators are working to identify those involved, collect available evidence and trace the suspected flow of money. The goal is to establish the facts and build a case supported by evidence admissible in court, he said.
The commissioner stressed that police would not base their conclusions on speculation or claims circulating on social media.
Since taking office on October 1, 2026, Thingkorn said he had instructed officers to accelerate investigations into online gambling websites. Arrests had continued to be reported, in line with policies set by the prime minister and national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma.
Agencies Coordinate on Gambling Investigations
Cyber police are also coordinating with the Department of Special Investigation under the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to exchange intelligence on online gambling operations, Thingkorn said.
He warned that if investigators establish a connection between the alleged payments and gambling activities, all individuals found to be involved will face legal action without exception.
Neither the political party nor the MPs mentioned in the former politician’s post have been identified in the information released by police. The allegations remain unproven, and the investigation is ongoing.
