Key facts
- Hong Kong police arrested 150 people in a crackdown on an illegal online betting syndicate.
- The syndicate handled over HK$320 million (US$40.8 million) in wagers.
- The operation targeted industrial units and online betting platforms.
- Authorities seized HK$1 million in cash and HK$4 million in valuables.
- The arrests were made between June 12 and June 14.
- Police warned against illegal gambling during the Fifa World Cup.
Hong Kong police have arrested 150 people in a three-day operation targeting an illegal online betting syndicate that handled over HK$320 million (US$40.8 million) in wagers. The crackdown, which involved 600 officers from June 12 to 14, targeted industrial units across Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Sha Tin, Kwun Tong, and Kowloon City.
During the raids, authorities dismantled four bet-processing centers, three promotion and administration hubs, and a venue used for recruiting bettors and collecting "dummy accounts." Eight websites offering football, horse racing, and other sports betting were also targeted, believed to be aimed at Hong Kong gamblers. The syndicate operated 24-hour centers, utilizing dummy bank accounts to process the substantial betting proceeds since July of the previous year.
Authorities seized HK$1 million in cash and HK$4 million worth of valuables, including computers and mobile phones. The arrestees, aged between 18 and 75, include syndicate ringleaders, center staff, recruiters, and bettors, with eighteen having known triad backgrounds. Most illegal gambling activities in Hong Kong have transitioned online, with local syndicates acting as agents for overseas platforms, offering discounts and credit betting.
Police warned the public against participating in any illegal gambling, especially during the Fifa World Cup, a peak period for unlawful betting. Under the Gambling Ordinance, only regulated horse racing, football betting, Mark Six lotteries, and licensed gambling venues are legal. Placing wagers with an unlicensed bookmaker can result in significant fines and jail time.