Bangkok, Oct. 21 -- Thailand has recorded a dramatic soar in the number of illegal websites, with over 400,000 URLs linked to gambling, e-cigarettes and alcohol advertisements detected this year, says the Thai Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES).

Chomparee Chompurat, DES inspector-general, said the ministry conducted a survey of websites potentially violating the law between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2025. The results showed a dramatic rise in illegal gambling and prohibited goods websites, from 60,000 URLs in 2024 to 400,000 URLs in 2025.

Notably, gambling sites alone expanded fourfold, from 62,213 URLs in 2024 to 307,538 URLs in 2025, she said.

At the same time, websites related to e-cigarettes and alcohol advertisi...