The Thai government continues to intensify its crackdown on online gambling. Recently, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, Prasert Jantararuangtong, reported that from January 1 to March 31, 2025, the government has blocked as many as 29,185 websites related to online gambling and arrested 4,627 individuals involved.
Prasert noted that the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society is working closely with the Royal Thai Police to combat cybercrime through a dual approach of "technology + law enforcement," particularly applying pressure on illegal gambling sites. He specifically mentioned that since 2022, about 200 related websites have been blocked, with another 118 pending court decisions for blocking.
In addition to blocking websites, the government has also collaborated with the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Bank of Thailand, and other agencies to cut off channels for gambling-related financial transactions, track down, and freeze related illegal bank accounts, creating a multi-departmental collaborative enforcement framework.
Prasert warns the public not to engage in online gambling activities, as they not only risk financial losses but also face significant dangers such as personal information leakage and exploitation by scam groups. He emphasized that operating gambling websites, participating in gambling, or posting related advertisements on social media are all illegal activities, subject to penalties of up to three years in prison or a fine of 5,000 Thai Baht, or both.
The Thai government has made it clear that combating online gambling is a long-term and ongoing effort, and any organizations or individuals attempting to engage in gambling activities online will face severe legal consequences.
