Authorities in Thailand and Vietnam stepped up their efforts against illegal gambling operations in June 2026, reinforcing strategies designed to protect regulated gaming markets as betting activity surges around the 2026 FIFA World Cup and online wagering continues to expand across Asia.
The most significant action took place in Thailand, where the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES) ordered the blocking of 13,888 gambling-related websites, pages, and URLs between June 1 and June 18, 2026. The operation combined court orders, technological cooperation, and artificial intelligence tools to identify unauthorized betting platforms attempting to attract players during one of the world's largest sporting events.
The campaign was coordinated by MDES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob and formed part of a broader national enforcement strategy that had already resulted in the blocking of more than 717,425 gambling-related URLs between October 2025 and May 2026. Authorities relied on provisions contained in Thailand’s Gambling Act B.E. 2478 (1935) and the Computer Crime Act, which allow courts to authorize the restriction of illegal online content. The objective is to prevent unlicensed operators from competing with regulated markets while protecting consumers from platforms lacking identity verification, player safeguards, financial transparency, and responsible gaming controls.
Minister Luong Tam Quang
In Vietnam, the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department, operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Security, led by Minister Luong Tam Quang, announced on June 21 the dismantling of an illegal online cockfighting betting network. The operation was conducted as part of a special 45-day campaign targeting crime and public order violations.
Authorities arrested numerous betters and seized more than VND100 million, along with equipment and evidence connected to the gambling operation. Investigators found that the network used digital platforms to facilitate wagers on cockfighting events streamed online.
The enforcement action falls under Articles 321 and 322 of Vietnam’s Penal Code, which criminalize both illegal gambling participation and the organization of unauthorized betting operations, particularly when internet, telecommunications networks, or electronic systems are used.
Together, the two cases highlight a growing regional trend, because governments are investing more heavily in enforcement, digital monitoring, and regulatory oversight to eliminate illegal gambling channels, safeguard tax revenues, and strengthen legal gaming ecosystems with higher standards of compliance, transparency, and consumer protection.
