Thailand's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) blocked more than 500,000 URLs linked to illegal websites last year, and that figure has risen to approximately one million URLs this year, DES permanent secretary Patchara Anuntasilpa said on Friday, October 9, 20261. The ministry is also reviewing why its artificial intelligence-based screening system failed to detect Shuffle.com, an online gambling website reportedly linked to the husband of Bhumjaithai Party MP Suchada Zhang Thansap1.
Mr Patchara said Shuffle.com was no longer accessible from Thailand after an official police request for action was submitted to the ministry, and that it was blocked in accordance with established procedures1. Authorities checked the site after it became the subject of news reports and found it was still reachable from Thailand1. He said one possible explanation for the failure was that the site had relatively few users in the country1.
"After the website appeared in the news, we checked it and found that it was still accessible, so we prepared to block it. However, it may have had relatively few users in Thailand, preventing the AI system from detecting it. We therefore need to improve the screening system to make it more effective at identifying websites of this nature."
An examination of the site while it remained open to Thai users found it offered more than gambling content, including entertainment services and event and party-related activities1. DES officials reportedly found relatively little user activity, though the ministry did not provide a precise figure1. The ministry will submit the Shuffle.com case to the relevant committee to analyze the system's shortcomings and revise its detection criteria1.
The DES relies primarily on AI and automated systems to screen illegal websites, following criteria set by a committee under the Computer Crime Act that includes a representative of the public prosecutor's office1. The system still faces limitations in detecting websites whose servers are overseas and whose transactions take place outside Thailand1. Under a revised coordinated process with judicial authorities including the Criminal Court, blocking can now be completed in approximately four days or less, with a court order obtainable in about three days1. Previously the committee had to meet every Monday and internal procedures alone took at least seven days, excluding court order time1. Once a court order is issued, the ministry forwards it to internet service providers to block access, or coordinates with platforms to have content removed1.
| Measure | Previous | Revised |
|---|---|---|
| Internal procedure time | At least seven days | Approximately four days or less |
| Court order | Additional time required | Obtainable in about three days |
| Committee meetings | Every Monday | Only for certain cases |
Mr Patchara acknowledged that persuading overseas platforms to remove gambling-related content remained difficult because gambling laws differ between jurisdictions1. Websites hosted overseas can also change domain names and resume operations after being blocked, making it difficult to determine how many sites circumvent restrictions1. In serious cases requiring urgent action, the ministry may coordinate with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission1.
What it means for players
Gambling is illegal in Thailand1. Asked about Thai nationals gambling through overseas websites, Mr Patchara said such activity could potentially constitute an offense under Thai gambling law, though where transactions take place overseas investigators would need to establish whether transferred funds were genuinely connected to gambling1. He added that he was not directly specialized in interpreting the relevant legal provisions and could not offer a definitive legal assessment of such transactions1. The Bangkok Post reported that the ministry did not provide a precise figure for Shuffle.com's user activity in Thailand1. For background on the legal position, see Can I Gamble in Thailand? and Online Gambling in Asia: The Law for Players in 12 Jurisdictions.
What happens next
The Shuffle.com case will go to the relevant committee for consideration, with the aim of analysing the screening system's shortcomings and revising detection criteria1. The ministry said it has other channels through which to continue monitoring the site1.
