Police Block 717,425 Gambling URLs Across Thailand

Thai police have blocked 717,425 gambling-related URLs and social media channels across Thailand as part of an intensified crackdown on online betting, particularly ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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According to Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwphan, Inspector General of the Royal Thai Police and Deputy Director of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre, National Police Chief Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet has ordered a nationwide campaign targeting all forms of online gambling. Measures include investigations, arrests, and the blocking of websites and social media platforms used to promote gambling.

Between 1 October 2025 and 20 May 2026, authorities blocked a total of 717,425 URLs across platforms including Facebook, Line and TikTok. Police said efforts to identify and shut down additional gambling channels remain ongoing.

At the same time, Pol Gen Thana Chuwong, Deputy National Police Chief and Director of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre, has continued operations against online gambling networks. During May and June, investigators identified 309 target gambling websites for enforcement action based on intelligence gathered through ongoing investigations.

Police have already secured arrest warrants and detained some suspects connected to these networks, while further investigations are underway to identify and prosecute the wider organisations involved.

Authorities have also been instructed to focus on preventing young people from becoming involved in online gambling. Particular attention is being given to the period surrounding the football World Cup in June 2026, when betting activity is expected to increase.

Pol Lt Gen Trairong said police are investigating football betting operations and are prepared to block gambling-related websites and social media accounts on all platforms. Artificial intelligence technology is being used to detect gambling content, allowing authorities to identify and block illegal operations more quickly and accurately.

Police analysis indicates that gambling networks have increasingly shifted from using traditional mule bank accounts to corporate accounts, PayPal, cross-border intermediary accounts and cryptocurrencies to process transactions.

Despite extensive enforcement efforts, authorities said demand for online gambling remains high. Data collected during early 2026 found that more than 4,000,000 people aged between 15 and 25, classified as Generation Z, had become involved in online gambling, with many first-time gamblers entering the market.

Investigators also found that gambling operators are increasingly using disguised advertising through influencers, live streams and short-form videos to attract people facing financial difficulties by promoting gambling as a shortcut to wealth.

Khaosod reported that police said enforcement against gambling promoters will continue. Authorities have already arrested influencers accused of encouraging online gambling and warned content creators against posting links, promotional content or gambling-related advertisements, stating that offenders will face legal action.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Khaosod 2 June 2026