THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Ministry seeks ways to solve online gambling problem

Ministry seeks ways to solve online gambling problem

Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta met with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) and internet service providers on Wednesday (September 9) to look for ways of solving the online gambling problem in Thailand.

He said it was becoming easier to place bets online, and that his ministry has cooperated with related agencies to arrest more than 20 owners of gambling websites across the country. He said more than Bt1 billion is circulated via these websites.

“The ministry has realised that online gambling is having an adverse impact on the economy and society, so we have discussed ways of suppressing this with the National Police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda and Technology Crime Suppression Division director Pol General Suwat Chaengyodsuk,” he said.

Online gambling is considered an offence under Article 4 of the 1935 Gambling Act, while those who invite others to place bets are violating both the Gambling Act and the Computer Crimes Act.

“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,” he said.

The minister added that a third notice will be sent to 3,097 social media pages and websites with illegal content, 1,748 of which are Facebook pages, 607 YouTube clips, 261 Twitter messages and 481 websites.

“Over the last week, [August 29 to September 7], 1,541 social-media pages and websites were reported, of which 210 were found to be in violation of the Computer Crimes Act. Of the 210, 161 are Facebook pages, 29 YouTube clips, two Twitter messages and 18 websites," he added.

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