Is online gambling legal in Thailand?

Using a VPN to access a banned gambling site is itself illegal. If an illegal online operator defrauds you, your only recourse is to report it to the Royal Thai Police, which may involve admitting to taking part. Prizes from the Thai Government Lottery are taxed at 0.5% and Thai Charity Lottery prizes at 1.0%.

Online gambling is not legal here. Playing on offshore sites can get you into legal trouble.

Online sports betting is banned in Thailand. Online casino is banned in Thailand. Online poker is banned in Thailand. The lottery is only partly legal in Thailand (partial).

Using a VPN to reach gambling sites from Thailand: Legal for general purposes, but using a VPN to commit an illegal act, such as accessing prohibited online gambling sites, remains illegal.

Gambling with crypto: Banned.

You must be 20 to gamble online in Thailand.

Winnings from the Thai Government Lottery are subject to a 0.5% tax, while winnings from the Thai Charity Lottery are taxed at 1.0%. This is withheld at the point of claim. Prizes over 20,000 THB must be claimed in person at the GLO headquarters.

There are approximately 2 licensed operators in Thailand as of 18 Jun 2026.

No national licence for online gambling exists here, so a site taking deposits from players in Thailand is not licensed locally, whatever licence it shows from elsewhere.

Office of the Government Lottery (GLO) for lottery; Ministry of Interior for horse racing.'s website

Prominent operators in Thailand

• ✓
  Purchase from Authorized GLO Vendors or the Official App

  Buy physical tickets only from vendors displaying official GLO branding. For digital tickets, use only the official 'Paotang' government application. Avoid all other websites or apps claiming to sell official tickets.

• ✓
  Verify the Ticket Price

  The official price for a lottery ticket is fixed by the government. Any vendor selling for a higher price is likely unofficial or is illegally marking up the price.

• ✓
  Check the Draw on Official Channels

  The official lottery draw is broadcast live on state television channels and the results are posted on the official GLO website. Do not trust results from any other source.

• ✓
  Understand the Claim Process for Large Prizes

  Legitimate winnings over 20,000 THB can only be claimed in person at the GLO headquarters. Any operator offering to pay out large sums online or via a third party is illegal.

What the rules mean for bonus offers you see in Thailand. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.

1. 1

   1. Contact the Vendor (Minor Prizes)

   For lottery prizes up to 20,000 THB, winnings can be claimed directly from any authorized lottery retailer.

2. 2

   2. File a Claim with the GLO (Major Prizes)

   For prizes over 20,000 THB, the winner must go in person to the Government Lottery Office headquarters in Nonthaburi with the winning ticket and identification to file a claim.

3. 3

   3. Report to Law Enforcement (Illegal Gambling)

   If a player is defrauded by an illegal online operator, their only recourse is to report the crime to the Royal Thai Police or the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). However, this may involve admitting to participation in an illegal activity.

• Myth

  It's safe to play on offshore websites because the police only arrest the owners.
  Reality

  While enforcement prioritizes operators, the Gambling Act B.E. 2478 makes participation in illegal gambling a crime. More importantly, playing on these sites exposes players to fraud and non-payment with no legal recourse, and the government is actively and successfully blocking access to them.

• Myth

  Using a VPN makes online gambling legal and untraceable.
  Reality

  Using a VPN to commit an illegal act (accessing a banned gambling site) is itself illegal. While it may obscure an IP address, it does not change the legal status of the activity, and financial transactions can still be traced by authorities like the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO).

• Myth

  Winnings from online casinos are tax-free.
  Reality

  All forms of gambling other than the state lottery and horse racing are illegal. Therefore, any 'winnings' are proceeds of crime and can be confiscated by law enforcement. Only winnings from the legal Government Lottery are recognized, and they are taxed at 0.5% or 1.0%.