Chinese authorities have dismantled a substantial cross-border sports gambling network that disguised itself as an online streaming service for the World Cup just before the finals. Officers in Panzhihua, located in Sichuan Province, report that this network managed to attract millions of online viewers and generated more than 2 billion yuan (approximately $296 million), according to Red Star News.
Following a series of raids, police arrested 20 individuals and seized 23 mobile phones along with 15 sets of livestreaming equipment. These arrests were part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal online betting tied to the World Cup, which saw numerous unlicensed gambling websites emerge, frequently masquerading as streaming platforms or “watch party” sites.
The network operated at least 180 streaming channels, and one particular soccer livestream reportedly drew over 760,000 concurrent viewers. Authorities noted that it also collected an estimated 100 million yuan ($15 million) through commission fees from other gambling sites.
The operation began with the Yanbian County Public Security Bureau, whose cybercrime officers detected a resident of Sichuan using a popular Chinese livestreaming platform to promote a questionable sports betting website. A preliminary investigation revealed that the site was tied to gambling activities, prompting police to collaborate with the local municipal bureau to form a specialized task force.
Using advanced data monitoring tools, detectives identified numerous suspects filling various roles within the network, such as site managers, customer service reps, technical support staff, and livestreamers, all discovered through the analysis of millions of data points linked to the gambling platform.
This criminal network reportedly operated gambling servers across China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia, attracting clients from multiple regions in Asia. According to officers, the platform registered 1.1 million members and counted over 6,300 agent accounts.
The timing of the raids was strategic, coinciding with the return of a key suspect, known by the surname Yuan, from Malaysia. Airport police apprehended Yuan upon his arrival, identifying him as the mastermind behind the network. In tandem, elite officers conducted simultaneous operations in 11 provinces and municipalities, including Liaoning, Guangdong, and Henan.
Authorities have deemed this operation a substantial initial victory in the broader effort to dismantle the entire criminal organization, with investigations still ongoing. They have committed to continuing their efforts to sever the network's financial resources, apprehend individuals financing the operation, and maintain public order online.
In Mainland China, all forms of gambling remain illegal, although the special administrative region of Macao hosts numerous casinos that have generated around $6.3 billion in tax revenue during the first half of this year according to official reports.
In a related development, police in Zhejiang Province have observed the rise of a fast-paced version of the traditional tile game mahjong called zhuanzhuan mahjong, which has been altered to facilitate high-stakes gambling. This game originated in Hunan Province and is now gaining traction across the country.
