The Macau Public Prosecutions Office has formally charged 59 individuals linked to an online sports betting operation. While two of these defendants are currently in pre-trial detention, the remaining suspects have been released on bail with restrictions preventing their departure from the city.
This case stems from a large-scale operation that resulted in the arrest of 93 people on July 2 across Macau, Hong Kong, and Guangdong. Law enforcement officials confiscated MOP88.4 million (approximately £8.5 million, €196.2 million, or US$11 million) in cash and froze bank accounts holding MOP22.1 million.
The betting platforms, located outside Macau, facilitated wagers on football and basketball, amassing around MOP72 million weekly during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament.
According to authorities, this illegal enterprise is estimated to have generated over MOP1.08 billion since 2016. While online gambling is prohibited throughout China, including Macau, a special administrative region known for its casino industry, those charged face potential prison terms of up to three years.
