China launches illegal online gambling reporting platform

Chinese authorities have unveiled a first-of-its-kind online reporting platform to allow citizens to anonymously report gambling firms operating in the country illegally. China’s Ministry of Public Security announced the launch of a new website, which allows individuals to submit reports on illegal gambling sites, as well as check the status of previously filed complaints. In addition, citizens will be able to report illegal gambling by scanning a QR code with their mobile phone as well as the opening of a fax line for complaints. The platform forms part of a three-year clampdown, first announced in July 2019, on illegal online gambling sites and groups that fund them. “The situation requires that we always maintain a severe and high-pressure stance, strengthen active strikes, large-scale strikes, and strikes in accordance with the law,” officials from the ministry confirmed in a press conference on Friday. “For the surrounding key gambling countries and international gambling groups, we will dig deeper, investigate and focus on a number of major cross-border online gambling cases,” officials added. Since 2019, the Ministry of Public Security has reported more than 7,200 criminal cases of online gambling, leading to the arrest of more than 25,000 individuals. Officials have seized and frozen more than ¥18bn (£200m) in gambling funds, raiding and ending illegal online gambling activities of 300 criminal gangs operating in China and neighbouring Vietnam. In August, Chinese and Vietnamese authorities launched their first joint cross-border operation, resulting in the arrest of 380 Chinese nationals operating an illegal gambling ring out of Vietnam. Chinese authorities have pledged to increase cooperation with neighbouring countries and crack down on banks that finance online gambling networks illegally. The Chinese government is also considering creating the country’s first blacklist of gambling operators.