The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has launched an investigation after Cambodian athletes competing in the 33rd SEA Games were seen wearing jackets featuring the logo of NagaWorld, an integrated casino resort in Cambodia, as reported by The Straits Times.
The logo appeared beneath the Cambodian national flag emblem on the right chest area of the athletes' jackets during an ASEAN flag-raising ceremony at the Indoor Stadium Hua Mark on December 8.
SAT Governor Kongsak Yodmanee confirmed that the agency would coordinate with the Department of Provincial Administration to assess whether displaying the casino brand infringed Thai laws that prohibit the promotion or advertising of illegal gambling.
Dr Kongsak said the SAT would act based on the findings and noted that the matter has generated intense discussion on Thai social media platforms.
NagaWorld is operated by NagaCorp in Phnom Penh and is one of the region's most prominent casino and entertainment complexes. While casinos operate legally within Cambodia, all gambling advertisements are prohibited in Thailand due to strict national legislation aimed at limiting access and exposure to gambling triggers.
Thai commentators questioned whether the appearance of the logo on athletic uniforms could be interpreted as indirect endorsement or marketing, given that sporting events attract significant public interest and media attention.
Authorities will review whether sponsorship visibility on foreign athletes' uniforms falls within the scope of Thai gambling advertising restrictions.
The Cambodian athletes arrived in Thailand on December 8 and participated in the flag-raising ceremony shortly after their arrival. Thai officials have emphasized that the probe focuses on compliance with national regulations rather than the conduct of the athletes themselves.
The SAT stated that any necessary measures would be taken once legal assessments are complete, underscoring Thailand's ongoing efforts to prevent unregulated gambling promotion in public settings.
Thailand tightly regulates public promotion related to gambling, including marketing content that could encourage or normalize illegal gambling activities
