The organizers of the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand will pursue legal action against a group of female spectators who promoted an illegal gambling website during Vietnam’s 2–1 win over Laos on Dec. 3.
The incident took place during the Group B opener at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok. A group of women sitting in the A-stand repeatedly raised banners featuring Vietnamese players, the SEA Games 33 logo, and the logo of an online gambling platform.
The images appeared not only during the Vietnam–Laos broadcast but also in the later match between Thailand and Timor-Leste.
Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Atthakorn Sirilathayakorn, condemned the act as a violation of Thai law.
He instructed the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) to pursue legal action against the fans involved, which could include filing police reports and lawsuits. SAT is capable of identifying the individuals, as ticket purchases require passports for foreign nationals and national ID cards for Thai citizens.
A screen capture shows a group of fans promoting illegal gambling in the main stand at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok during Vietnam’s 2–1 win over Laos at SEA Games 33 on Dec. 3, 2025. |
Minister Atthakorn also warned television audiences to remain vigilant. SAT has directed broadcasters to carefully review footage before airing and has instructed security forces at stadiums to tighten screening procedures.
“This footage triggered widespread discomfort and criticism, especially at a time when Thailand is battling rampant gambling and online fraud,” Thai media outlet WRN reported. “There is growing pressure on the government to crack down on these problems.”
WRN added that the incident has triggered public outrage in Thailand, not only damaging the SEA Games’ reputation but also enabling fraudulent gambling sites to gain deeper access to Thai society.
In addition to banners, the gambling website’s logo was printed on SEA Games 33 hats, which were distributed for free to fans outside the stadium.
According to Read sources, the Vietnamese sports delegation has been informed by SEA Games 33 organizers and will assist in monitoring, particularly during men’s and women’s football matches.
This is not the first time such incidents have occurred during games featuring Vietnam’s national teams. Similar activities were reported during the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD) in Indonesia, and the SEA Games in 2019 (Philippines) and 2023 (Cambodia).
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