(AsiaGameHub) – Thai authorities are gearing up for a significant operation against illicit online gambling sites in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup this month.
Per Bangkok Post reports, law enforcement has marked 309 online gambling websites as primary targets for enforcement in May and June, with several arrests already connected to these platforms.
Deputy Director of the Technology Crime Suppression Centre, Lieutenant General Trairong Piwpan, stated that police have instructions to surveil and stop young people from participating in online gambling during the competition, starting 11 June.
The nation is aligning with Indonesia and Hong Kong in expressing concern about the World Cup’s potential to fuel a rise in illegal gambling activity throughout Asia.
Betting on the event is forecast to reach unprecedented levels, with H2 Gambling Capital estimating over $60 billion will be wagered—a 71% jump from the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Officials reported blocking more than 717,000 web addresses from October 2025 to May 2026, some hosted on Facebook and TikTok, with plans to maintain these efforts for the remainder of the year.
The extensive scope of the crackdown highlights the serious challenge posed by illegal operators this summer, as betting attracts fresh participants.
This enforcement push follows Technology Crime Suppression Centre data showing over 4 million Thais between 15 and 25 years old, categorized as Gen Z, have participated in online gambling.
The centre indicated that social media influencers are being employed to lure users by promoting gambling as a way to amass considerable riches.
It also observed that these sites have moved on from employing mule accounts to transfer gambling funds, now utilizing corporate accounts, international intermediaries, and digital currencies.
Thailand’s illegal gambling market is valued at approximately 1.1 trillion Baht (£25.1bn) per year, with football betting making up the biggest portion at 270.4 billion Baht (£6.16bn).
Piwpan added that authorities are using artificial intelligence to identify unlawful gambling material, enabling a more efficient focus on illicit platforms.
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