Although gambling online is prohibited in Thailand, modern technologies have enabled Thai citizens to confidently and safely engage in the activity.
Smartphone proliferation and penetration have been the key drivers to the growth of online casinos and sportsbooks, not only in Thailand but in other Asia-Pacific countries as well. Yet the emergence of various programs and applications have brought on improvements that made online gambling more secure, and in many ways attractive to millions of Thai citizens despite prohibitions.
Below are three examples of advancements in technologies that have been instrumental in driving the growth of online gambling in Thailand:
5G Mobile Network
5G or 5th Generation Mobile network is the newest wireless technology that has greatly improved mobile phone communication. It allows smartphone users to virtually and swiftly connect not only to other mobile device users, but also to 5G-supported machines and other gadgets.
Fortunately for Thai citizens, their country is one of the leading proponents of 5G network usage in Asia. Thailand is in fact the first Southeast Asian nation to support the 5G transformation initiative particularly in the healthcare and medical tourism industries. The government of Thailand remains active in exploring other 5G applications to support the country’s other industries.
The 5G network has been a significant technological advancement in the global gambling industry, particularly in the sports betting sector as punters are able to access sporting events as they happen. At the same time they are able to access the services of bookmakers in real-time and 24/7, by way of proprietary mobile applications.
Virtual Private Networks
Although supported by 5G technology, Internet usage in Thailand is not only limited, but also monitored. It’s important therefore for Thai gamblers to confine their gambling activities to virtual sportsbooks and online casinos that use Virtual Private Networks when communicating with Thai customers.
As the Thai government is still averse to the idea of legalizing online gambling in the country, government officials have given orders to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block offshore-based gambling sites. Doing so prevents Thai citizens from accessing websites that offer betting products and real-money casino games.
Moreover, ISPs have been instructed to to store Internet traffic data for at least 90 days, as well as retain them up to a period of two years. That way, agents of the Department of Culture in Thailand will be able to detect and track down any illegal online gambling activities.
However, if communications are sent via the Internet using a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the data sent by a device to a network and vice-versa, are encrypted to ensure the safe transmission of sensitive information. The encrypted messages will not make sense when appearing as traffic data, giving VPN users peace of mind over the privacy and secrecy of communications sent via the Internet.
Encrypted Payment Processing Systems
Reliable and secure payment processors play an important role in maintaining the sustainability of the online gambling industry. While customers and operators of online gambling websites carry on with gambling transactions that include fund transfers, payment processors act as a secure go-between for both parties when accessing their respective bank accounts.
Payment processors maintain accreditations with banks and credit card companies so they can facilitate online financial transactions between two contracting parties under a secure environment. The system eliminated the need for customers to provide information about their credit card and/or bank account to merchants, operators or service providers.
Trustworthy payment processors utilize their innovative encryption system when sending information between banks and their customers, to make it impossible for hackers to access bank information or passwords, which could lead to unauthorized withdrawals.
The three modern technologies cited above are examples of what an online casino website (เว็บคาสิโนออนไลน์) or a virtual sportsbook (หนังสือกีฬาเสมือนจริง) in Thailand utilizes, in order to make online gambling an exciting and rewarding experience for Thai customers.