Thailand Blocks More than 717,000 Gambling URLs Ahead of World Cup
BANGKOK – Thai authorities have blocked more than 717,000 gambling-related URLs as the country intensifies its crackdown on illegal online betting ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Royal Thai Police said 717,425 websites, webpages and social media links connected to gambling activity were blocked between October 1, 2025 and May 20, 2026. The operation follows a nationwide directive targeting all forms of online gambling.
Police Lieutenant General Trairong Piwpan, deputy director of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre and spokesperson for the Royal Thai Police, said authorities are preparing for a potential rise in football betting as the World Cup approaches.
Related: Thailand Appeals Court Clears Path to Extradition of Alleged iGaming Kingpin
Police Target Hundreds of Gambling Websites
Thai authorities have identified 309 online gambling websites as priority targets for enforcement action during May and June. According to police, arrest warrants have already been issued in several cases, and some suspects have been detained while investigations continue.
The crackdown forms part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling gambling networks rather than simply removing individual websites. Authorities said the operation remains ongoing and additional platforms are expected to be targeted in the coming months.
More than 150 agencies and enforcement personnel are involved in monitoring online gambling activity, with officials increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to identify gambling content more quickly and accurately.
Police said AI systems are helping investigators detect gambling websites and social media promotions across platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and Line.
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Concerns Grow over Youth Gambling
Authorities also expressed concern about the growing number of young people participating in online gambling. Data reviewed by the Technology Crime Suppression Centre indicates that more than four million Thais aged between 15 and 25 have engaged with online gambling platforms during the early months of 2026.
Police believe gambling operators are increasingly using influencers, livestreams and short-form video content to attract younger audiences.
Officials warned that many promotions portray gambling as a quick route to financial success while failing to highlight the risks of significant losses and gambling-related harm. As a result, law enforcement agencies have been instructed to focus on preventing young people from becoming involved in online betting activities during the World Cup period.
Cryptocurrency and Cross-Border Payments Under Scrutiny
Investigators said gambling operators have adapted their financial operations in response to previous enforcement efforts. According to police, many networks have reduced their reliance on traditional mule accounts and are increasingly using corporate accounts, digital payment services, international intermediaries and cryptocurrencies to move funds.
Authorities acknowledged that these methods make investigations more complex but said they remain committed to disrupting illegal gambling operations and the financial networks that support them.
Thailand joins several other Asian jurisdictions that have raised concerns about the potential for major sporting events to fuel illegal betting activity. Officials said monitoring and enforcement efforts will continue throughout the World Cup and beyond as part of the country's wider campaign against online gambling.
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