China’s Ministry of Public Security says authorities nationwide have cut off more than 1 trillion yuan (US$150 billion) from illegal cross-border gambling operations so far this year.
The ministry announced that more than 60,000 suspects have been arrested in connection with 8,800 anti-gambling investigations conducted from January to September, and more than 1,700 gambling platforms and 1,400 illegal payment platforms and underground banks have been shut down.
Also, more than 600 China passport holders have been arrested outside the country with the help of local law enforcement for alleged involvement in gambling-related activities𑁋a “strong deterrent,” the ministry said, for any “international gaming companies” looking to induce Chinese nationals to gamble abroad.
Beijing has identified cross-border gambling, both land-based and online, as a major source of illicit capital outflows and a “national security risk” and has proposed changes to the criminal code to make it a specific offense to solicit citizens of the mainland to gamble abroad. The government also has announced the creation of a “blacklist” of foreign gaming jurisdictions from which its citizens would be banned.
The crackdown has heightened concerns among casino markets around the region that the lucrative China trade could shrink dramatically.
Widely reported in Chinese media, it appears to be impacting Macau as well, deterring visits by mainland high rollers and curtailing the ability of junket networks inside and outside the country to finance their gambling.
