Underground casino raided in China

The Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau announced it busted an underground casino operation.

China.- The Guangzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau announced it have destroyed a large underground casino operation in GZ Baiyun District.

The ring was operating in the Jianggao area of Baiyun, whilst the casino was set up in different locations including rented housing, abandoned factories and even a wooden shack. Gang members set up surveillance to monitor the police forces at the time the casinos were operational. After a probe that lasted at least two months, more than 100 police were deployed and arrested eighty-nine staff members.

Gambling is considered illegal under Chinese law, with the exception of state-run lotteries (the China Sports Lottery and the China Welfare Lottery) and gambling that takes place within the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

Under PRC’s Criminal Laws, those who engage in gambling, run a gambling house or “make a profession” out of gambling may be fined or sentenced to jail for up to three years. In 2012 an estimated of 347,000 Chinese citizens were prosecuted for gambling offences and 5,700 were sentenced to detention.