In a major crackdown on illegal gambling, police in Ningbo, located in Zhejiang Province, have detained over 200 people involved in high-speed mahjong betting, specifically a variant known as zhuanzhuan mahjong. The authorities executed their operation across 16 suspected gambling dens, apprehending 204 gamblers and 21 organizers, according to reports from Ningbo News Network.
A representative from the Yinzhou District Public Security Bureau shared concerns about evolving tactics among illegal gambling operators, stating, "Some new illegal betting operators are now calling themselves ‘card game clubs’ or ‘social entertainment providers.’ They are using highly deceptive methods."
This enforcement action follows a prior warning from a Chinese court regarding the growing trend of Go clubs permitting customers to place bets through entry or commission fees. In China, all gambling is prohibited, except for state-sanctioned lotteries deemed a form of fundraising.
Authorities in the Yinzhou District estimate that the gambling den operators profited around 1.12 million yuan, roughly $165,000. The organized group reportedly encouraged bettors to begin with small amounts, gradually increasing stakes to nearly $100 per game.
Approximately 200 police officers participated in the raids. Many of the gambling dens presented themselves as casual mahjong clubs, where patrons could enjoy the game in a social setting with tea and refreshments. However, law enforcement declared that these venues primarily promoted zhuanzhuan mahjong, which is characteristically associated with monetary gambling.
The game zhuanzhuan mahjong is a faster-paced variation that originated from Hunan Province, about 1,000 km away from Ningbo. Unlike traditional mahjong, which utilizes 136-144 tiles, zhuanzhuan mahjong is played exclusively with 108 suit tiles, allowing for rapid gameplay. Bettors typically wager between 60 to 600 yuan ($9-$90) on each hand, with the winner receiving the pot minus a commission fee for the den’s operators.
Authorities first identified zhuanzhuan mahjong betting rings in 2010 when they discovered such operations in a Hunan shop, where the owner reportedly generated profits nearing 100,000 yuan, or almost $15,000. Since then, the popularity of this gambling variant has soared, prompting the discovery of numerous betting rings throughout Hunan and beyond.
In a related incident this February, police in Hunan arrested 16 individuals participating in high-speed mahjong games with bets reaching up to 500 yuan ($74). The gambling took place in a vegetable market shop that housed three betting tables upstairs, with the owner taking a cut of 200 yuan ($30) per hand played.
Judicial responses to these gambling operations have been severe; judges have sentenced den owners to imprisonment ranging from one to four years while also transferring substantial sums of gambling profits to government treasury.
