Macau prosecutors have charged 59 individuals who were caught up in an investigation into sports betting earlier in the month. Except for two, all have been freed on bail. The illegal operation allegedly reaped hundreds of millions each week at the recent UEFA Euro 2024.
Macau Public Prosecutions Office indicted 59 individuals for allegedly being involved in a sports betting online ring. Two defendants are still in pre-trial custody. All the rest were released with bail and told not to leave city.
In total, 93 individuals were arrested during the sting operation on 2 July in Macau Hong Kong and Guangdong. Police seized MOP88.4m (PS8.5m/EUR196.2m/US$11m) in cash and froze bank accounts containing MOP22.1m.
These websites, which are located outside Macau took wagers on basketball and football games. During the recent UEFA Euro 2024, they reportedly made MOP72m in weekly profits.
The illegal operations has reportedly brought in MOP1.08bn (more than $1.08bn) since 2016.
In China, online gambling is prohibited everywhere, even in Macau. Macau is the largest casino market and a Special Administrative Region (SAR). These charges can result in a prison sentence of up to 3 years.
