Thailand Blocks Over 883,000 URLs in Crackdown on Illegal Gambling
2026-07-22
Source: iGaming Expert
Thai authorities blocked 883,012 URLs in under a year, including over 600,000 linked to illegal gambling, and have streamlined legal procedures to accelerate website takedowns. The crackdown comes amid growing challenges from millions of illicit sites, with police also shuttering thousands of football gambling platforms during the World Cup.
Thai authorities have intensified their fight against illegal online gambling, blocking 883,012 URLs between October 2025 and July 2026, with more than 600,000 of those linked to unlicensed betting sites. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has now streamlined the process for taking down illegal webpages, reducing bureaucratic steps to accelerate enforcement.
Under amendments to Section 20 of the Computer Crime Act 2007, designated officials can petition a court to suspend or block a URL more quickly. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has been a vocal advocate for stronger measures against online crime, including gambling, as the scale of the problem continues to grow.
The Ministry described the recent takedowns as merely the tip of the iceberg, noting that the number of illegal URLs now stands in the millions, a sharp rise from the tens of thousands observed just a few years ago. One industry source likened the enforcement challenge to a game of whack-a-mole, as operators constantly replicate and relocate their platforms.
During the 2022 World Cup, Thai police shut down 4,576 online football gambling websites and arrested 617 bookmakers. Authorities estimated that more than 20 billion baht (around £442.6 million) had circulated through those sites, underscoring strong demand for gambling among the population.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Charnvirakul met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and reaffirmed a joint commitment to combat transnational crimes, including illegal gambling. Both countries agreed to boost cooperation between law enforcement and judicial agencies, as well as on extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.