China cracks down on 73,000 cross-border gambling cases in 2024

February 7, 2025

China cracks down on 73,000 cross-border gambling cases in 2024

China’s Ministry of Public Security arrested over 11,000 suspects, shut down more than 4,500 online gambling platforms, and investigated 73,000 cross-border gambling and related cases in 2024.

The ministry announced on Thursday that public security authorities across China handled a total of 73,000 cases related to cross-border gambling and associated crimes last year. As part of this crackdown, four major operations targeting 45 key cross-border gambling cases were conducted, leading to the arrest of more than 11,000 suspects.

Authorities dismantled over 4,500 online gambling platforms and disrupted multiple recruitment networks and underground financial channels operated by overseas gambling syndicates within China. The Ministry of Public Security stated that these actions had further reinforced the “overwhelming crackdown” on cross-border gambling activities.

In response to overseas cities attracting Chinese tourists for gambling, authorities implemented a tourism destination blacklist aimed at mitigating cross-border gambling risks. Restrictions on listed destinations, including suspending outbound group tours, were introduced, with the first batch of measures enforced in August 2020.

The ministry highlighted its collaboration with various departments, including foreign affairs, culture and tourism, commerce, immigration, and the People’s Bank of China, to intensify efforts against cross-border gambling. It also noted ongoing efforts to monitor evolving gambling crime trends and dismantle illegal syndicates.

“Various departments across the country will strengthen publicity and education, conduct in-depth publicity through various means to reveal the harmful nature of gambling, and follow up and expose the latest means of cross-boundary gambling crimes in a timely manner so as to vigorously enhance the public’s awareness and ability to recognise, reject and oppose gambling,” it said.

As part of international cooperation, Chinese and Cambodian police conducted two joint chartered flights in April and November 2024, repatriating over 1,200 Chinese suspects involved in gambling and fraud from Cambodia.

Authorities in Chongqing, after three years of investigation, uncovered and dismantled a gambling syndicate known as “DC,” which had long been based in the Philippines and had been soliciting gambling and betting activities in mainland China.

The ministry affirmed that public security authorities would continue efforts against gambling payment institutions, live internet gambling, illegal lotteries, and gambling-related investments.

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