More than 4 million Thai Gen Z users aged 15 to 25 had become involved in online gambling by early 2026, according to statistics and analysis by the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center under the Royal Thai Police, as reported by local media outlet The Nation.
Authorities said many of them were new gamblers.
Police found that online gambling platforms have increasingly used hidden advertising through influencers, live broadcasts and short-form videos to reach young people, particularly those facing economic pressure. Authorities warned that these platforms often present gambling as a way to earn quick money but can lead users to lose large sums.
The center also found that online gambling networks have evolved beyond traditional mule accounts, using juristic-person accounts, PayPal, cross-border intermediary accounts and cryptocurrency to move money.
Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwphan, deputy inspector-general and deputy director of the Information Technology Crime Suppression Center, said police units have continued taking action against people involved in the online gambling ecosystem, including influencers who promote gambling.
From October 1st, 2025, to May 20th, 2026, the Royal Thai Police and related agencies blocked 717,425 URLs across websites and social media platforms, including Facebook, Line and TikTok.
Between May and June, the center targeted 309 online gambling websites. Authorities are also preparing tougher monitoring and enforcement ahead of the World Cup in June 2026, with artificial intelligence being used to help detect online football betting activity.
