Chinese police say they dismantled a major cross-border sports gambling network that posed as a World Cup online streaming network ahead of the tournament’s final.
Officers in Panzhihua, Sichuan Province, said the network attracted millions of online viewers and generated over 2 billion yuan (about $296 million), the Chinese media outlet Red Star News reported.
Police arrested 20 people in a series of raids, where they also seized 23 mobile phones and 15 sets of livestreaming equipment.
The arrests come as Chinese police and social media operators wrap up a nationwide crackdown on World Cup-related online betting. Officers say scores of illegal gambling sites sprang up during the tournament, many of which also posed as streaming platforms and “watch party” sites.
World Cup Online Streaming Network Had Millions of Viewers
Officers said the network ran at least 180 online streaming channels, with one undisclosed soccer livestream attracting over 760,000 concurrent viewers.
Police said the network also generated 100 million yuan ($15 million) in commission fees from other gambling-related sites.
The police operation was the brainchild of the Yanbian County Public Security Bureau, whose cybercrime officers first detected a Sichuan Province resident using a popular Chinese livestreaming platform to promote and attract users to a suspicious-looking sports website.
A preliminary probe confirmed that the website in question was promoting gambling. Officers contacted the municipal bureau and formed a cross-departmental task force.
Detectives used big data-powered monitoring tools to identify tens of suspects, all working in different roles. Police said they identified site managers, customer service representatives, technical support personnel, and live streamers using “millions of data points on the gambling platform.”
Officers said the network operated gambling servers in China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia, attracting multinational clients all across Asia.
The platform had 1.1 million registered members and over 6,300 agent accounts, police said.
Suspected Mastermind Arrested at Airport
Police said they timed the raids to coincide with the return to China from Malaysia of a suspect surnamed Yuan.
Officers have identified Yuan as the network’s ringleader. Airport police apprehended Yuan as soon as his plane landed, as elite officers stormed addresses in 11 provinces and municipalities, including Liaoning, Guangdong, and Henan.
Police said they had scored a “significant initial victory in the crackdown on the entire criminal network.” The case, they added, remains active pending further investigation.
The bureau said it would continue in its efforts to “cut off the network’s remaining funds, arrest financiers, and sever channels.”
Officers said they will “fully safeguard social order” and boost internet security.
All forms of gambling are illegal in Mainland China. However, the special administrative region of Macao is home to scores of casinos.
The regulated casino sector generated $6.3 billion in tax revenue in the first half of the year, per official figures.
Police in Zhejiang Province, meanwhile, have recently reported the spread of a high-speed version of the popular tile game mahjong.
Known as zhuanzhuan mahjong, this variation of the game is fast-paced and has been modified to allow high-stakes gambling.
Officers say the game originated in Hunan Province, but is now gaining popularity across the country.
