Thailand Blocks 13,888 World Cup Gambling Pages in 18 Days Using AI
Thailand has blocked 13,888 gambling sites online associated with the World Cup 2026 during an 18-day campaign using artificial intelligence. According to the authorities, the move comes as part of wider efforts to ensure that there will be no violations of the law in connection with the tournament, adding that companies should not broadcast matches live for commercial purposes.
AI-Backed Crackdown
The Prime Minister’s Office said tougher measures have been put in place to stop transnational online football gambling networks and protect intellectual property rights during the World Cup period. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesangchan said security and technology agencies had been brought together to strengthen cyber-blocking efforts against URLs connected to online gambling.
The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has been supporting the operation with artificial intelligence tools used to detect, analyze, and screen suspicious data across social media platforms. According to the government, the campaign is aimed at moving faster and more accurately against illegal gambling content circulating online.
The crackdown follows direct instructions from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who told agencies to eliminate online gambling websites that the government described as a social time bomb. Officials said the work was stepped up during the World Cup 2026 period from June 1 to 18, when petitions were filed with the court, and orders were obtained to block illegal websites.
Websites And Pages Removed
Collaboration between the relevant authorities and online platform owners was done to remove any gambling site illegally operating. The total number of such blocked and removed sites stood at 13,888 in 18 days.
The government pointed out that this measure was not aimed only at gambling websites, but at creating the proper environment for watching the World Cup. Officials said the campaign was intended to stop illegal online betting while also reinforcing the rules around how the tournament is watched and shared.
The use of artificial intelligence was presented as a key part of that enforcement model, helping agencies identify problematic content more quickly. With online activity moving fast during the tournament, the government said it wanted to keep pace with the spread of gambling-related links and websites.
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Copyright Rules For Businesses
Apart from betting, the deputy government spokesperson issued a warning to shop owners, restaurant owners, and entertainment establishments all over the country on compliance to copyright regulations pertaining to the World Cup 2026. According to the Thai government, they would allow Thai football fans to watch and cheer on for the event, but stressed that it must be done within the boundaries of the law.
According to Ploytalay, any individual broadcasting, rebroadcasting, or retransmitting the World Cup 2026 live broadcast signal without prior written authorization by the copyright owner of the broadcast signal in Thailand shall constitute copyright infringement for business purposes. The retransmission includes the making of recordings of broadcasts, rebroadcasting of broadcasts, re-streaming of broadcasts, live-streaming of broadcasts, and public performance of broadcasts within shops in order to attract customers.
She went on to say that the punishment is severe, with imprisonment up to six months to four years, or fines of 100,000 to 800,000 baht, or both. This warning was directed to both companies and individuals, and the authorities made it clear that the commercial use of the signal transmission would not be allowed.
Responsible Viewing Push
The government called on the public and business operators in all sectors to help set a new standard for responsible World Cup viewing. Officials urged people to avoid all forms of gambling and follow copyright procedures strictly.
It said compliance would help support the sustainable growth of Thailand’s sports, media, and related business sectors. With the tournament still underway, authorities are keeping a close watch on both illegal gambling links and unauthorized broadcast use.
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Source: The Star
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