Thai sports news outlet Khob Sanam has accused an illegal gambling network of misusing its name, logo and brand identity to promote an online betting website. The unauthorised use made the gambling site look connected to a legitimate sports media brand.
The case comes as Thailand increases action against illegal online gambling during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Authorities have been monitoring gambling websites, social media pages and football betting promotions more closely.
Khob Sanam denies gambling link
Khob Sanam has no connection with the gambling site and has not allowed any group to use its name or logo. The outlet warned users not to trust links, pages or ads that present the gambling platform as part of its business.
The fake use of its identity could damage public trust and mislead readers. Khob Sanam is preparing legal action and has urged authorities to investigate the misuse of its brand.
Fake branding targets sports fans
Illegal gambling sites often use sports content, team imagery and media-style branding to attract users. A recognised sports news name can make a betting link look safer to casual fans.
That tactic becomes more effective during major tournaments, when football traffic rises sharply. Fans searching for scores, fixtures and highlights can be pushed toward betting pages through fake ads or copied media pages.
The Khob Sanam case shows how gambling networks can use media identity theft instead of only direct advertising. That creates risk for readers and for publishers whose names are copied.
Thailand increases gambling crackdown
Thailand has been stepping up enforcement against online gambling before and during the World Cup. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society has worked with police and other agencies to block illegal gambling websites and social media pages.
Authorities have reported large-scale website blocking in recent months. Gambling pages make up a major share of illegal links targeted through the government’s online enforcement campaign. Football betting remains one of the main concerns. Illegal operators use social platforms, messaging apps and cloned websites to reach users during major matches.
Cloned pages are hard to track
Fake gambling pages can appear across search results, social media accounts and messaging apps. Some use copied logos and similar page names, while others buy ads that look like normal sports content. That makes monitoring difficult for media companies and regulators. Readers may need to check official website addresses and verified social accounts before clicking betting-related links tied to sports news brands.
