Chinese police are increasingly confronting illegal gambling activities that have shifted to remote mountains and forests, where gamblers are reportedly congregating to play card games and mahjong. In response to this emerging trend described as "forest gambling," law enforcement has intensified raids and surveillance efforts.
Recently, authorities dismantled an underground gambling operation in Huize County, Yunnan Province, arresting twelve suspected gamblers in the process. During the operation, approximately $900 in cash was seized from the illicit card game. An officer from the Kuangshan Police Station commented, "We discovered a gambling den in a ravine deep in the woods. We surrounded the area and apprehended all 12 suspects while they were still sitting at a makeshift gambling table."
All twelve individuals have faced charges and received undisclosed penalties from the courts.
Earlier this May, police had conducted a separate series of raids targeting gambling rings in the same province. In Anning, known for its hot springs and natural parks, police captured a group of gamblers in a restaurant's backroom, confiscating over $2,800 in cash. After receiving a tip-off, officers arrested eleven people, with the alleged leader facing further charges.
Additionally, in Loudi, Hunan Province, police are actively tackling illegal video game arcades featuring gambling operations, part of a wider crackdown on such venues. These arcades often host fishing machine games that allow players to gamble while competing against each other. Recent enforcement actions led to the arrest of 45 individuals across four locations, with 20 gaming devices, including fishing machines, seized.
A spokesperson from the Loudi Public Security Bureau remarked, "Gambling is illegal and not only easily leads to personal financial losses, but also causes various other illegal and criminal activities," and affirmed that efforts to stamp out gambling will continue.
To bolster their efforts, local police in Hunan Province have launched a “summer offensive” targeting gambling hotspots, declaring significant progress with the dismantling of seven gambling dens and the arrest of over 60 individuals. Authorities are also utilizing anti-gambling campaigns while adapting their strategies to counteract evasion tactics used by gamblers, such as gathering in public cemeteries and abandoned buildings, alongside investing in new technologies like drones for surveillance.
