BANGKOK (NNT) – The Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society (MDES) is to request a court order to shut down more than 200 gambling sites. It has also instructed Thai internet service providers and mobile operators to close online gambling sites according to a court order within 15 days, or they will be charged.
Digital Economy and Society Minister Putthipong Punnakan discussed guidelines for solving the online gambling problem, with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission Broadcasting Commission, Internet service providers of Thailand and mobile service providers at a recent meeting.
Following the meeting, the participants are jointly working to solve the problem and are taking action to disrupt the sites, by seeking court orders to close online gambling sites and instruct Internet service providers and mobile service providers to block any online gambling sites according to the court order within 15 days, or they will be prosecuted under the Computer Act B.E, 2550, Section 27, and face a fine not exceeding 200,000 baht, and daily fines of not more than 5,000 baht until they comply with the law.
This is believed to have reduced the number of online gambling sites. Meanwhile, evidence has been collected for the seeking of court orders to close an additional 220 online football betting sites. Previously, there was a court order to close 982 online gambling sites and the MDES will now submit evidence to seek court orders to close an additional 200 gambling sites.
