Cyber Police Trace Crypto Links to Shuffle Gambling Network
Cyber police are tracing cryptocurrency transactions linked to the Curaçao-registered Shuffle gambling network, using exchange data to build cases against Thai players before pursuing foreign operators.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Sirawat confirmed that cyber police are proceeding firmly against the gambling website and have not ignored or abandoned law enforcement. The case involves different procedures and laws compared to typical gambling sites that operate with physical bases or Thai bank accounts. Officials can prosecute both players and operators, expand investigations, and seize assets strictly, with verifiable statistics, continuing to suppress technology crimes decisively and continuously.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Sirawat revealed that Shuffle is registered in Curaçao and operates differently from typical gambling sites, requiring careful consideration of criminal elements and jurisdiction, particularly under Penal Code Section 5, where offenses committed outside the kingdom but affecting Thailand allow prosecution. Authorities must first prosecute players in Thailand to establish evidence of offenses occurring within the kingdom before expanding to foreign operators. Arresting players is the first step in gathering digital evidence and linking all involved networks.
Currently, police have received information from three digital asset trading platforms or exchanges, finding financial trails connecting to the Shuffle website. They have met to plan and are preparing sweep operations soon. Shuffle is more complex than typical Thai gambling sites using bank accounts because it transacts via digital assets; players must exchange money for cryptocurrency and convert to platform tokens, requiring detailed transaction verification from exchange platforms to bring offenders to justice under Thai law.
Regarding the overall crackdown on gambling sites, cyber police have provided information to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to block approximately 900,000 websites, with about 30 percent blocked so far, while employing AI technology to help locate offending sites. Authorities confirmed that the Shuffle case involves active investigation and 80 special operation teams already deployed, not just started after recent news coverage. For the God Dam case, investigations are ongoing with police already filing charges; when new illegal posts are found, cases proceed immediately. The public is asked to monitor operational results that will be visibly evident soon.
