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Thailand’s illegal gambling crackdown took an unexpected turn this week after a government minister said he was offered a 40 million baht (£910,000) bribe.
The money came from people hoping he would stop action against illegal betting sites and call centre scams. For more background on the country’s legal framework, see gambling regulation in Thailand.
Minister refuses bribe as investigations grow
The bribery attempt shows how high the stakes are in Thailand’s fight against illegal gambling.
Chaichanok Chidchob, the Digital Economy and Society Minister, said he turned down the bribe and immediately informed the authorities. His refusal comes as law enforcement steps up raids on gambling networks and money laundering rings.
The Ministry of Justice confirmed police arrested 52 suspects linked to illegal websites. The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) also shut down two online platforms that processed about 2 billion baht (£45.5 million). Meanwhile, the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) caught 49 more individuals involved in sites generating an estimated 17 billion baht (£386.9 million) each year.
Authorities are still checking if any of those arrested are tied to the bribe offer.
Illegal gambling remains widespread in Thailand
Strict laws have not stopped millions of Thais from gambling.
Only horse racing and the State Lottery are legal. Yet, reports show more than 34.5 million people gamble in Thailand every year, mostly through underground sites. The black market is now worth around 1.1 trillion baht (£22.8 billion).
Officials say about 61% of the profits leave the country, draining local funds and hurting the economy.
Calls for reform divide politicians
The bribery case has reignited the long-running debate about legalising gambling.
Earlier this year, plans for casino resorts were dropped after the removal of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. Her successor, Anutin Charnvirakul, continues to reject gambling expansion. He told local media:
“If someone says gambling can stimulate the economy, I’d say wait for another prime minister.”
“Don’t wait for me, as I don’t agree with this approach. While I was the interior minister, I also said poker shouldn’t be allowed. But once I left, they went ahead with it. We must bring righteousness and justice back to our nation.”
Still, several analysts argue legalisation could bring much-needed revenue. The Ministry of Finance once projected that integrated resorts could earn 120 to 240 billion baht each year and pay between 12 and 40 million baht in annual taxes per site. For deeper insights into market growth and policy trends, read the Thailand iGaming market research report (2025).
As Thailand continues its crackdown, will the growing black market eventually push the government to reconsider regulation?
Source: iGaming Expert
