TLDR Thailand’s government has ordered stronger blocks on illegal online gambling websites before the 2026 World Cup AI is now being used to help detect and remove illegal gambling content Over 673,699 illegal gambling URLs and scam links were blocked between October and May Authorities are focused on stopping young people from accessing illegal gambling platforms The crackdown covers both court-ordered removals and cooperative takedowns by platforms
Thailand is stepping up its fight against illegal online gambling just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off. The government has told the Digital Economy and Society Ministry to increase efforts to block gambling websites as interest in the tournament grows.
Deputy government spokeswoman Ploytalay Laksmeesangchan confirmed that enforcement agencies, including the police Technology Crime Suppression Centre, have been directed to tighten monitoring. The focus is on keeping young people away from illegal platforms.
AI Being Used to Find Illegal Sites
Thailand is now using artificial intelligence to improve how it detects and blocks illegal gambling content. The technology gives authorities another tool to identify websites and links tied to gambling and scam activity.
This marks a step up in the technical approach the government is taking. Rather than relying solely on manual reporting and court orders, AI adds a faster layer of detection.
Hundreds of Thousands of URLs Blocked
Between October 1 and May 31, authorities blocked 673,699 illegal gambling URLs and scam links. Of those, 635,717 were removed under court orders. The remaining 37,982 were taken down cooperatively by online platforms.
In May alone, 78,796 URLs were blocked. That is a high monthly figure and shows enforcement activity is not slowing down.
The numbers reflect how widespread the issue is and how much effort goes into managing it on a month-to-month basis. Authorities have maintained a steady