The EURO 2024 football tournament became a battleground against illegal gambling in Thailand, as Thai authorities launched a comprehensive crackdown that disrupted over 2.4 billion baht (66.3 million USD) in illegal gambling activity.
Recognizing the potential for a surge in illegal gambling during the EURO 2024 tournament, the Thai law enforcement agencies deployed a specialized task force.
The authorities’ primary focus was on the digital realm, where they identified and shut down 224 betting websites linked to unlawful gambling activities.
Alongside the digital crackdown, the authorities conducted a series of raids on physical gambling dens across the country. These operations led to the arrest of 3,017 individuals, including 50 bookmakers and 2,944 punters.
The scale and impact of the Thai authorities’ efforts during EURO 2024 tournament, saw some 3,863 suspects arrests in connection with various gambling-related offenses.
The Thai authorities also recognized the need for international collaboration in tackling the cross-border nature of illicit gambling activities. By sharing intelligence and coordinating with their counterparts in neighboring countries, they were able to disrupt the transnational networks that had facilitated these unlawful operations.
