New member new quesiton regarding casinos and banking....

[spearmaster]

How do you go about your gaming from here (Thailand).

Well, let's put it this way. Before January this year, I played mostly on affiliate earnings deposited into Neteller (as I am apparently the *only* permitted exception, having been one of Neteller's early testers). Although I do have a US bank so could move funds that way as well.

Since then, no gaming, I have to stoop so low as to playing against Simmo! every night for a beer a round (and I'm down more than a case at the moment).

Althought legally outlawed by the state, the online casinos (via means of Live Help) are willing to accept Thai-based members.

This is not exactly true. Gambling is technically illegal in Thailand, though obviously they turn a blind eye to most of it (there are more than 200 underground casinos in Bangkok), and of course there are exceptions for government lotteries and horse racing (go figure).

As it stands, if the government really wants to crack down on gambling, they need to stop:

* Football betting (fat chance)
* Cockfighting (fat chance)
* Muay Thai Boxing (fat chance)
* Underground lottery (impossible)
* 200 casinos, many owned by influential people and politicians (impossible)
... and more.

The only successes they ever have are:

* cracking down on private games (so they can have a little pocket money)
* premium SMS voting games (because there are only a few providers and TV channels)
* occasional raids on casinos (where important participants generally know way in advance so only small fry get caught) - btw the casino reopens the next day...
* one raid on an idiot Malaysian operating a live online casino a few steps away from the Criminal Investigation bureau

But all of these have one thing in common - these activities clearly take place on Thai soil. Online gambling cannot be said to do the same because the servers are not on Thai soil - and this is the same in many other countries around the world.

Thus we generally do not consider online gambling illegal unless explicitly declared by law (because then they can make ISPs monitor the activities and connections of their customers).

The only reason you hear anything about these things is because, again, there are only a few big ISPs, plus a national gateway - but in reality there is not much they can do about it and one day they will give up the fight.

I don't have a Thai credit card or one that is registered to an address, to be more precise. The last thing I need is the complications that will arise by using my British CC over here in Thailand, etc. Online gaming sites track your IP and can tell where you are playing from and I know for a fact that 888.com will suspend your account if the CC you are using and the country you are playing from are not the same.

This is easier to fix than you think - simply provide identification and inform them in advance that you may be using your British CC. In fact I used to be able to use my US CCs as well. They won't have much of a fit if you are a farang because they are more concerned about CC fraud (which is typically perpetrated by Thais or other Asians).

The main and most favourable option for me is from my Bangkok Bank, bank account.

I am assuming that there is a Foreign Remittance service down in Surat Thani, and that you have checked in advance. Most branches actually cannot do wire transfers.

That being said, wire transfers are also expensive (must be 200 or 250 baht, can't remember) and you would not want to do small amounts anyhow.

I looked at inetbet and their minimum on a Wire Transfer deposit is $500 which is too high for my first deposit, or more than I want to spend.

Maybe some other members can suggest places which will take smaller transfers - I don't think I have ever used that option.

Do you have any other suggestions and who do you use?

Again all advice will be greatly appreciated.

LOS.

Unfortunately, I don't use anyone at the moment and thankfully the hassle of doing a wire transfer overrides any desire I have to gamble (well, I suppose I could thank Simmo! also but that's also a damn expensive way to have fun LOL).

If you are willing to use your UK CC, and are willing to prepare ID in advance, I suspect you'll find a few casinos which will be happy to accommodate you - you can ask Emily by PM to see if she would do that, or perhaps Ed or Pat at 32Red.

And if they would prefer visual identification, I will provide that service for you for either the cost of a beer the next time you're in Bangkok, or a flight down to Surat Thani at your cost But once I verify you are who you are, you should be good to know because they know who I am as well!

[Land OF Smiles]

Have been doing a bit of research into the subject and fortunately there is a foreign remittance service located in Surat Thani for BBL. I don't consider 200 baht personally to be over what I would pay on a Wire Transfer. My Spanish bank account charge 12.5 euros, so it seems like, globally, it averages out.

I have contacted Intercasino about the using of my British CC and seeing what they say. I used to use them and I trust them enough to play with them from Thailand. We'll see what happens.

Also I have a BBL Visa Debit card, that may work and is registered to my home address here in Surat. I have also been gratefully advised that K-bank have a farang debit card that can be used for online transactions on a global basis and he's already verified his Moneybooker and Paypal accounts with it. So if BBL are a stumbling block Kasikorn could be the way forward.

As for the visual identification, if all else fails, I'll be more than happy to take you up on your offer. What are the prices for a return flight to Surat these days? I think the 40 baht bottle of Chang looks like a much better offer!


Jokes aside, I'll keep you posted as to my progress.

Thanks again.

LOS.