Laos Deports 41 Thai Online Gambling Workers From Vientiane

Lao authorities have deported 41 Thai nationals after linking the group to three online gambling websites operating from Vientiane. Thai officials received them in Nong Khai on August 10 following their arrest in Laos. This according to reports in The Thaiger online.

Good to Know

• The group included 30 women and 11 men.
• All 41 told Thai officials they worked as gambling website administrators.
• Lao authorities arrested them during a July 22 operation targeting illegal gambling, scams and human trafficking.

Workers Relocated From Cambodia to Laos

Thai screening found that the group had previously worked for gambling websites in Cambodia before clashes along the Thai Cambodia border disrupted their plans. They later travelled through Nong Khai into Vientiane and rented accommodation there.

Authorities linked the workers to Maha Heng 777, UFA and 365. They reportedly worked 12 hour shifts, with Maha Heng 777 paying 400 baht per day while UFA and 365 paid monthly salaries of 15,000 baht and 18,000 baht respectively.

Initial checks found no outstanding arrest warrants among the 41, while Thai authorities also concluded that none qualified as human trafficking victims.

The case sits within wider enforcement activity against cross border gambling and scam operations in Southeast Asia. Thai police also arrested Chinese national Pei Min Si in Pattaya in April. Investigators linked him to an online gambling network with more than 239 channels and over 330,000 members.

Thailand continues to take a restrictive approach to gambling more broadly. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said in November 2025 that his government would not revive plans for legal casinos, and that position remained in place after his return as prime minister in 2026.

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