Around 3.6 million people in Thailand are likely to bet on the forthcoming World Cup soccer tournament which will start in Germany on Friday, according to an Abac opinion survey.

The poll, conducted among 4,685 respondents in 21 provinces nationwide, said that about 20 million Thais aged 13-60 would stay glued to the television during the month-long tournament.

It estimate wagers totaling 14 billion baht (U.S.$368,000)will be placed during the tournament. The number of people having a flutter is expected to be more than double the number who gambled on the 2004 European Championships in Portugal in 2004, but they will gamble only half as much.

As many as 54 percent respondents said they were forced to sell or pawn belongings to settle previous gambling debts. And 30 percent admitted they have been involved in fights with bookmakers or other gamblers.

Most bookmakers have decided not to take cash and accept bets via telephone instead to reduce the risks of being raided by police.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) has set up a total of 101 task forces comprising 1,212 officers to clamp down on football betting, with 10 gambling dens in the capital currently on a blacklist.

These task forces, working in league with local police, will target gambling in schools, on campuses, shopping centers and entertainment establishments. A 15-man cyber task force has also been set up to track down gambling websites, Police Col Pinit Maneerat was quoted by Bangkok Post as saying Monday.

In the European Championships tournament two years ago, 93 major bookmakers and more than 1,000 punters and couriers were arrested.