Thailand shuts down 1,457 gambling sites

About 140 people were arrested in a clampdown on operations that handled an estimated US$718.5m.

Thailand.- Thailand’s minister of Digital Economy and Society, Buddhipongse Punnakanta, has announced that his office has shut down 1,457 websites in the last three months for running online gambling operations.

Over 140 people were arrested for offences under the 1935 Gambling Act in operations conducted by the ministry in collaboration with the police.

Punnakanta said the sites in question collectively handled Thb21.7 billion (US$718.5 million).

He said: “We have arrested 140 offenders and charged them with several offences, including running a gambling operation, money laundering, and committing computer crimes.

“People are encouraged to send screenshots or the URL of online gambling ads or websites to the DESMonitor Facebook page. Officials will submit this as evidence to police for investigation, and the ministry will close the website after receiving police approval.”