Police: 99 gamblers arrested during first five days of Euro 2008

BANGKOK, June 13 (TNA) - Nearly 100 gamblers were arrested during the first five days of Euro 2008, apparently causing a surge in electricity consumption during the live broadcasting of the games were surging but post no threat to the power security, officials said.
Royal Thai Police deputy spokesman, Pol. Maj-Gen. Ruengsak Charit-ake unveiled the nationwide statistics on football gambling suppression from June 7-11, saying that eight bookmakers, 99 gamblers and three betting collectors were arrested with betting sheets valued at Bt 87,870 and around Bt16,000 cash.
However, the police commissioner-general urged the Crime Suppression Department and the Information and Communication Technology Ministry "cyber inspector" to work together to keep close watch on online gambling and setting up measures to prevent related-online gambling.
Meanwhile, Apichart Diloksophon, deputy governor of systems control for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) said electricity usage has increased since the Euro 2008 started on June 7. The event will run until June 29.
The increased demand of the electricity won't affect the electricity system because the electricity demand is low during the period from 11am-1.45pm when the Euro football matches are broadcast. Moreover, EGAT has prepared electricity production to serve higher demand throughout this month.
Apichart said that the increase of the electricity usage depends on the popularity of the football matches and teams. From June 7-11, electricity usage increased by 0.6 million units per day.
During the opening match between Switzerland and the Czech Republic, electricity consumption rose by 200 megawatts and peaked during the match between Holland and Italy, increasing by 300 megawatts.