The Parliamentary Legal Committee continues tracing money linked to online gambling, with no attendance from “Idea MP and her husband,” nor from the Digital Economy Ministry Secretary-General or MP Supachai at the meeting. “Sirichok” revealed signs of additional implicated parties, urging the SEC to strengthen oversight of digital currency transactions to curb illicit activities and money laundering.
At 09:30 on 29 Oct 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Sirichok Sopha, former Songkhla MP from the Democrat Party, spoke at the parliament before briefing the Parliamentary Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights, chaired by Mr. Rangsiman Rome, List MP from the People’s Party, regarding newly discovered information in the investigation of financial flows connected to online gambling websites. He said he did not focus on any single company but sought money flows through companies in Thailand used to gamble on the online betting site Suffer.com, uncovering over 100 million baht linked through Bitkub. Bitkub has confirmed this, as has Maxbit company, which also verified the findings.
The committee today invited another company; if more money trails are found, it will demonstrate the need for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to strictly regulate and inspect digital currency or cryptocurrency businesses. He clarified he does not blame crypto trading companies, but the transactions must be monitored to prevent money laundering through digital currency used for online gambling.
He emphasized that normal cryptocurrency buying and selling is legal, similar to exchanging money for US dollars. However, using cryptocurrencies for online gambling violates Thailand’s Gambling Act of 1935. The committee must determine if the companies have gambling-related money flows; preliminary checks suggest there is evidence, otherwise they would not be summoned.
When asked if there would be another walkout by the Bhumjaithai Party members of the committee, Mr. Sirichok replied it depends on whether Mr. Supachai Jaisamut, List MP from Bhumjaithai Party and committee vice-chairman, has completed his tasks at the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC). He added he has not personally spoken with Supachai recently as they are not close despite knowing each other for a long time.
Regarding whether these cryptocurrency trading companies have identity verification processes, Mr. Sirichok said this should be asked of the companies. These firms can use leading services with Blockchain Analytics tools that assess transaction risks and assign risk scores, which can be used to block suspicious transactions. It must be checked if these companies employ such services, which come with costs. The SEC does not currently mandate this until 2027, but he believes transaction monitoring should be done now rather than waiting until then.
Reporters noted that today’s legal committee meeting invited relevant state agencies, such as representatives from the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES), Ms. Suchada Sang Thanthap (Idea), Chaiyaphum MP from Bhumjaithai Party, Mr. Taiyang Sang, husband of Ms. Suchada and CEO of the company, and Mr. Sirichok Sopha, former Songkhla MP from the Democrat Party. Of the five Bhumjaithai MPs on the committee, only Mr. Natthanon Srikokuea, Songkhla MP, and Ms. Rinlita Adisa, List MP from Bhumjaithai, attended. Likewise, MPs from Pheu Thai and Kla Party on the committee did not attend.
Mr. Rangsiman said the committee did not allow media to record or report on the meeting to allow agencies and informants to provide information fully. The Ministry of Digital Economy promised to provide information; the minister sent a letter citing scheduling conflicts and delegated the ministry secretary-general to attend, but he could not be reached at the start of the meeting. Meanwhile, Ms. Suchada and her husband did not respond to the invitation to provide clarification.
