Govt blocks 1,140% more gambling websites than same period last year
The government has blocked access to over 60,000 “inappropriate links”, including some 25,000 gambling sites, in the first five months of fiscal 2024.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Kenikar Oonjit said the Digital Economy and Society (DES) blocked access to 60,681 links deemed as providing illegal or inappropriate information to the Thai public from October 2023 to March 5, 2024.
Among these blocked links were access to 25,571 gambling websites, Kenikar said on Sunday, adding that the number of blocked gambling websites increased 1,141% from the 2,059 blocked websites in the same period of the previous year.
She said those caught operating online gambling websites would be liable to a maximum jail term of 10 years and/or a maximum fine of 200,000 baht.
Those who advertised for others to participate in gambling websites would be subject to a maximum jail term of two years and/or a fine of 2,000 baht, she added.
Kenikar said the government urges the public not to believe the ads on gambling websites as they were likely to be deceived and lose their money.
