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Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) blocked 13,888 online gambling links, websites, URLs, and social media pages between June 1 and June 18 as authorities intensified efforts to combat illegal betting during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The crackdown comes amid concerns that gambling activity could rise during the tournament, prompting the government to increase monitoring and enforcement across digital platforms.
DES Deputy Minister Nan Boonthida Somchai said the ministry has stepped up enforcement following instructions from DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob to tackle online crime and illegal gambling linked to the World Cup.
The blocked content was removed through court orders and cooperation with digital platform operators. Authorities are also using artificial intelligence to identify and monitor gambling-related websites and social media networks.
Nan said AI tools were helping authorities detect and analyse gambling content more quickly, enabling faster identification and removal of illegal material.
The ministry warned the public against sharing, promoting or distributing gambling-related content online, saying such activity could violate Section 14 of Thailand’s Computer Crime Act, even if done unknowingly.
The latest enforcement action builds on a broader anti-gambling campaign. Between Oct. 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026, the DES blocked 673,699 gambling-related URLs, websites and online pages, including 635,717 under court orders and 37,982 through cooperation with digital platforms.
Thai police separately reported blocking more than 717,000 gambling-related internet links during the same period as part of efforts targeting football betting websites, gambling networks and promotional content on social media platforms.
Authorities have identified hundreds of gambling websites as priority targets during the World Cup, warning that major international sporting events often trigger a surge in online betting activity.
The government is also monitoring rising participation in online gambling among young people. Data from Thailand’s Information Technology Crime Suppression Centre showed that more than 4 million Generation Z users aged 15 to 25 had engaged with online gambling platforms by early 2026, with many identified as first-time users.
Investigators are also examining financial networks linked to illegal gambling operations, including the use of corporate accounts, cross-border intermediaries and cryptocurrency transactions.
Thailand’s online gambling enforcement campaign is expected to continue throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup as authorities seek to disrupt betting networks and limit the spread of illegal gambling activity online.