The Thai government has initiated a crackdown on illegal sports betting, resulting in the closure of over 4,500 World Cup-themed soccer gambling websites. This operation, which has been reported to involve roughly 20 billion baht (approximately $591 million) in gambling funds, is part of a broader effort to manage illegal betting activities following the World Cup's conclusion.
According to a spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Royal Thai Police and the Bank of Thailand are collaborating to dismantle online gambling networks. Despite an existing nationwide ban on sports-betting sites catering to Thai speakers, the number of such platforms has surged. Snooker players have expressed concerns, urging the government to revise its betting laws to better support young talent in sports.
The crackdown specifically targeting World Cup betting began on June 6 and concluded on July 19, resulting in the seizure of 617 illegal sportsbooks and the disruption of nearly 8,200 private gamblers. In just the first half of July, authorities closed 137 online gambling sites, which were generating significant revenues exceeding 10 million baht (around $297,000).
In an effort to bolster enforcement, the Prime Minister’s Office is set to establish the Online Gambling Suppression Center, which will act as a reporting hub for whistleblowers and utilize advanced IT technologies to trace illegal betting operations. Orders from Anutin Charnvirakul, the Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, will guide the dismantling of illegal gambling networks and the traders of unauthorized mobile SIM cards.
The government executed its most recent sports-betting crackdown on October 1, 2025, coinciding with a similar operation against illegal gun sales. This firearms initiative has already seen the closure of nearly 790 illicit trading platforms, leading to the arrest of over 3,000 suspected arms dealers and the seizure of more than 4,000 illegal firearms and 243,000 rounds of ammunition.
The Prime Minister's office has also announced plans to investigate influencers who promote online gambling and to pursue those orchestrating such operations. A strong warning has been issued to individuals, known as cash or card mules, whose bank and e-wallet accounts are exploited by gambling syndicates, as they face potential prison sentences of up to five years and fines reaching $14,850.
In a separate incident, police raided an illegal gambling operation in Nonthaburi, Thailand’s second-largest city, apprehending 17 individuals, including an 85-year-old man. The group was found betting on dice games near a shrimp fishing pond after traveling from Bangkok and Chonburi. Officers recovered 7,600 baht ($225) in cash at the scene. The elderly suspect stated that he was drawn into gambling by his caretaker.
Additionally, authorities in Mukdahan Province are preparing to arrest 41 Thai nationals implicated in running an illegal online betting network in Laos, with plans to extradite them back to Thailand shortly.
