China promises tough action on online gambling platforms

Miao Shengming, head of the first prosecutor’s office at the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, has said the country will take strong measures against online gambling platforms offering products to Chinese citizens.

China.- Authorities in China have no intention on relaxing their clampdown on online gambling. Miao Shengming, head of the first prosecutor’s office at the Supreme People’s Procuratorate said in a press conference that China will continue to take tough action.

He said 255,850 had been arrested and charged in relation to 98,069 cases of “opening casinos” from 2018 up to September 2021. Some 63,238 were prosecuted between January and September this year.

He said: “Criminals used the internet technology, such as software and platforms, to connect gamblers, casinos and their proxies.”

Zhang Xiaojin, from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, told South China Morning Post “because of stronger actions against dark and evil elements, and cross-border gambling, cases have increased and prosecutions have also increased.”

He added: “As traditional gambling moves online, casinos are opening in the guise of games of chess and cards for great profits, harming our country’s economic security.”

The comment come after Alvin Chau Cheok Wa, CEO of Suncity Group Holdings, was arrested in Macau on accusations of cross-border gambling and money laundering.

In June, the Cyberspace Administration of China announced four new measures to fight cross-border gambling. Authorities also said they would punish online platforms that provided paid promotion services for overseas gambling. 

The CAC also announced the monitoring of blockchain services, including cloud storage and virtual private network services (VPN) to have more extensive control.