Gambling sites blocked ahead of World Cup
Thai police are cracking down on online gambling and blocking websites ahead of the Fifa World Cup.Summary
The Royal Thai Police have intensified a nationwide crackdown on online gambling in preparation for the Fifa World Cup. Under the orders of Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch, authorities are targeting football betting websites and social media channels, with over 717,000 URLs blocked between October 2025 and May 2026.
Pol Lt Gen Trairong Piwpan stated that police are utilizing artificial intelligence to detect and block gambling content more efficiently. The operation specifically aims to protect young people from gambling. Additionally, investigators have noted that operators are moving away from traditional mule accounts toward more complex financial methods, including corporate accounts, PayPal, cross-border intermediaries, and cryptocurrencies.
(Source：Bangkok Post)