Online Casino Workers Detained in Thailand

On January 21, Thai border forces detained 14 Thai nationals (nine men and five women) as they attempted to illegally cross the border in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province.

Detention at the Thai–Cambodian Border

The incident occurred in the Aranyaprathet area during an evening patrol. Border officers spotted a group crossing the border on foot from the Cambodian side.

The arrests took place near checkpoints 39–40, about 150 meters from Highway 3511, in Ban Mai Pak Hong village, Khlong Nam Sai subdistrict.

Who Was Among the Detainees

All 14 individuals were Thai citizens. Thirteen presented national identity cards, while one held documentation for a person without civil registration.

The detainees admitted that they had illegally crossed the border while attempting to return from Cambodia to Thailand.

Work at Online Casinos in Cambodia

Recruitment Through Social Media

According to the detainees, they were offered jobs through Facebook in late November 2025. They were promised a salary of around 25,000 baht per month to work as administrators of online casino websites.

They were then taken to Sa Kaeo province, from where they illegally crossed the border and ended up in the Cambodian city of Bavet.

Working Conditions Under an iGaming Operator

The detainees said they worked for an unnamed iGaming operator and supported several of its brands.

They claimed that wages were deducted if they failed to meet set targets and that physical violence was used, which prompted their attempt to escape.

Escape Attempt and Transfer to Police

Middleman and Second Border Crossing

To return to Thailand, they contacted a middleman from Poipet known as Win and paid 2,500 baht per person.

The middleman brought them to the border and said a vehicle would be waiting on the Thai side, but instead the group was met by law enforcement officers.

Further Actions by Authorities

All detainees were handed over to Khlong Nam Sai police station for further legal proceedings.