China details “ultimate goal” to paralyse international gambling operators

China’s Ministry of Public Security has given so-called cross-border online gambling operators until 30 April to cease providing services to Chinese citizens or face prosecution.

Publishing a six-part notice, the ministry hailed the effects of China’s three-year crackdown on illegal online gambling by the country’s authorities but pledged that there was much still to be done.

The notice confirms severe penalties for individuals found to be facilitating gambling but suggests suspects will be treated leniently if they surrender to authorities by 30 April.

“For those criminal suspects who refuse to surrender within the prescribed time limit, they will be punished in accordance with the law without hesitation,” the ministry said.

Individuals can surrender by phone, in person or via a third party, with the understanding that lighter sentences will be given by Chinese authorities, with the potential to avoid jail time in cases where individuals cooperate fully with investigations.

In a press conference unveiling the six-point notice, Liao Jinrong, director of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, suggested more arrests were imminent.

He said: “This is a key task that our national public security organs will continue to focus on and continue to work hard in the next period. Our ultimate goal is to completely paralyse overseas gambling groups.

“When gambling on the internet, you will never retreat unless you achieve your goal.

“We must also be aware that driven by huge economic interests, some overseas gambling groups are still fighting against the trend, continuing to lure Chinese citizens out of the country or participate in online gaming business services, or provide them with illegal capital transfer and technical operation and maintenance.

“We are currently investigating a large number of cases. In addition to overseas gambling group owners and shareholders who work against us there are also a large number of cross-border gambling practitioners and illegal capital and technical service groups,” Jinrong concluded.

Since 2019, the Ministry of Public Security has reported more than 7,200 criminal cases of online gambling, leading to the arrest of more than 25,000 individuals.

Officials have seized and frozen more than ¥18bn (£200m) in gambling funds, including in raids on illegal online gambling activities of 300 criminal gangs operating in China and neighbouring Vietnam.

In June 2020, Chinese authorities launched a first-of-its-kind online reporting platform to allow citizens to anonymously tip off authorities about gambling firms operating in the country illegally.