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20th June 2018
04:21pm BST
A 19-year-old Irish model is facing a jail sentence in Thailand after promoting gambling websites, which is illegal in the Southeast Asian country.
Jessie Vard, originally from Donegal, has been charged for posting photos with gambling sites displayed in them.
According to the Irish Mirror, she has been connected with a large number of promotions for gambling sites.
Despite being against the law, models often promote them with some earning thousands of euros a month.
Thai authorities have been coming down harder on football gambling and those who promote them since the World Cup started.
Vard was just one out of 15 people who were due to appear in court in relation to the promotion of gambling.
Vard and four other young women handed themselves into police yesterday.
She reportedly confessed and publicly apologised for breaking anti-gambling laws.
The offence could land her in jail for a year or carry a fine of 1,000 baht (€26).
Vard reportedly said in court that she didn't know the activity was illegal and pleaded with people to "not get involved with the sites."
She has been released on bail and is due to be sentenced later this month.
Over 1,000 people have been arrested on charges in relation to gambling since May 2nd.
Police General Chalermkeate Sriworakhan, Deputy Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, added, ''Net idols or pretties who have online followers are not allowed to post anything gambling related or suggestive to gambling activities.
''Fifteen net idols are included in warrant calls for posting gambling suggestive posts on social media including the infamous Miss Jessy Vard." [sic]
He said heavier patrols will be out checking pubs near schools and community areas for gambling.
Despite being illegal, betting, online gambling and related activities generate billions of euro's each year in the country's underground economy.
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