China Cracks Down on Illegal Gambling Amid Euro 2024

Chinese Authorities Crack Down on Illegal Gambling Amid the Euro 2024 Frenzy

As football fans worldwide revel in the excitement of the UEFA European Championship (Euro 2024), Chinese authorities have been busy disrupting a wave of illicit online gambling activities related to the tournament. In recent weeks, police across China have reported successful crackdowns on multiple scams exploiting Euro 2024’s popularity for illegal gambling operations.

According to Chinese media, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau announced they had dismantled three online gambling rings, arresting 21 suspects. During the raids, police seized electronic devices, financial records, and other gambling-related items.

In a similar case in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Qingbaijiang police arrested two suspects involved in a scheme that accumulated over RMB 400,000 ($54,994) in bets by recruiting people to join a WeChat group and sending them betting odds.

The Shanghai government reported that scammers often create fake betting site links that closely resemble the official Euro 2024 website, tricking users into thinking they are the official betting platform. These sites manipulate the system to ensure initial small wins, but once the stakes are raised, the backend shuts down, making it impossible for users to retrieve their money.

Fraudsters have also been distributing fake text messages, claiming to be from the official Euro 2024 website and stating that the recipient has won a prize. When people click the link, they are asked to transfer money for taxes or fees, or their personal information is stolen.

Beijing police have urged the public to be cautious with online gambling, watch games rationally, resist temptations, avoid participating in illegal activities, and protect their personal privacy.

These crackdowns are part of a broader campaign by Chinese authorities to maintain public security during the Euro 2024 tournament. As the competition continues, police have vowed to intensify efforts to disrupt illegal gambling operations and protect football fans.

In Hong Kong, security minister Chris Tang Ping-keung reported that 62 people have been arrested for illegal gambling since Euro 2024 began in mid-June. The detainees face charges of conspiracy to commit bookmaking and money laundering, with five identified as core members and 32 as holders of stooge accounts. The amount involved exceeds HK$460 million ($58.9 million), and police investigations and enforcement operations are ongoing.

Tang noted that Hong Kong police are maintaining close intelligence exchanges with mainland China, Macau, and overseas law enforcement agencies to combat bookmaking and related gambling activities. From January to May, 181 people were arrested for serious gambling offenses.

Original Story by: AGB