UNODC flags rapid growth in illegal online gambling across Asia
Illegal online gambling continues to be one of the fastest-growing forms of organised crime across Southeast Asia, with criminal networks increasingly using illegal gambling measures to attract younger users, according to a new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Released in Bangkok, the 2026 Transnational Organised Crime Threat Assessment for Southeast Asia paints a broader picture of how criminal groups are evolving beyond traditional activities. The report largely covers illegal gambling, cyber scams, human trafficking, tobacco crime and firearms smuggling, describing them as part of a single, interconnected criminal ecosystem.
One of the report’s key findings is that the line between online gaming and online gambling is becoming increasingly blurred. “The line between online gaming and online gambling is becoming more and more blurred,” said Delphine Schantz, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
Several Asian countries affected
She explained that features commonly associated with video games are now being used to make gambling platforms more engaging, particularly for younger audiences. Combined with widespread smartphone use and easy internet access, these features are making illegal gambling more accessible than ever.
The report notes that this trend is affecting several countries across South Asia, including India. Beyond gambling, UNODC says organised crime groups are no longer operating as isolated syndicates focused on a single illegal activity. Instead, they now function as connected networks that share infrastructure across multiple crimes, including cyber fraud, money laundering, migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
“Their operating model looks like corporate franchising,” Schantz said. “Imagine specialised departments for laundering money, trafficking people, smuggling migrants and harvesting data, all plugged into the same service-based interconnected network.”
Issues despite crackdown
Human trafficking linked to these operations is also growing. UNODC said victims from at least 80 countries and territories have been identified in scam compounds across the region.
Hundreds of Indians have reportedly been rescued from compounds operating near the Myanmar border after being lured with promises of software jobs before being forced to work for online scam syndicates.
The report also warns that recruitment networks are expanding beyond Asia, with advertisements now targeting people with European language skills to support scam operations.
Use of AI for frauds
At the same time, criminals are adopting newer technologies to expand their operations. The report also flagged the rising scale of artificial intelligence usage, deepfakes and automated fraud tools that require little human involvement. It also notes that “malvertising” attacks, where legitimate online advertising networks are used to distribute malware, increased by 42 per cent in 2025.
UNODC Lead Analyst Inshik Sim said the rapid expansion of organised crime has also created an entire ecosystem of supporting services that often appear legitimate. The agency believes traditional enforcement alone will not be enough to tackle the problem.
Instead, it is urging governments to strengthen prevention efforts, improve international cooperation and develop greater expertise in tracing and recovering criminal proceeds, particularly those moved through cryptocurrencies.
According to UNODC, organised crime is evolving faster than conventional enforcement methods, making coordinated global responses increasingly important.
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