Thai health authorities have warned of a sharp rise in online gambling among young people, describing the trend as an escalating public health concern. The findings, highlighted in the 2025 Thai Health Report released by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation or ThaiHealth, were cited by senior officials and reported by Bangkok Post.
The data suggests that 32.3% of Thai youth participated in online gambling in 2023. On average, young gamblers reportedly spent THB1,633 per month, contributing to an estimated THB58.7bn in annual gambling circulation generated by this demographic alone.
ThaiHealth assistant manager Paranee Phuprasert said the spread of online gambling has created significant risks for mental health, family stability and academic performance. She noted that the ease of access through mobile devices makes online betting more difficult for parents and educators to monitor, increasing vulnerability among children and adolescents.
Online gambling is considered one of the fastest-growing risk behaviours among Southeast Asian youth, driven by social media exposure and low entry barriers.
To address these challenges, ThaiHealth has focused on strengthening community based support since 2017. This includes the development of 1,054 learning spaces and more than 1,376 youth-centred activities designed to promote safe environments and early intervention. Over 200,000 children and teenagers have benefited from these initiatives.
Nisa Rattanadilok Na Phuket, director of ThaiHealth’s Office of Community Health Support, said effective protection requires cooperation across local governments, administrative authorities, state agencies and community organisations. She added that more than 243 local youth councils now play an active role in identifying risks and supporting preventive programmes at the grassroots level.
ThaiHealth urges deeper community involvement and long term preventive action
