$773 MILLION ONLINE GAMBLING BUST IN CHINA

14 September 2007

32 charged in ongoing investigations


Chinese authorities have again demonstrated government antipathy to online gambling, announcing the arrest of 32 people in northeast China's Liaoning province, charged with involvement in illegal online gambling involving a total of 5.8 billion yuan (about US$ 773 million).

Another 10 people, including the principal offenders Yang Xu and Wang Jun, are still under further investigation and will be formally charged at a later date, a local government statement reported by Xinghua said.

More than 50 additional people thought to be involved in the case are still on the run, according to local police, who said Yang Xu, head of the criminal gang, formed a small group of gamblers and began operating illegal online gambling sites with his wife Wang Jun in November 2005.

The gang soon expanded to more than 100 people in just less than two years with the oldest member 61-years-old and the youngest 24.

Government officials stressed that gambling is illegal in China and the law will be enforced against Internet and other gambling offenders.

"The prevalence of online gambling has ruined the online environment and harmed young people's growth, which runs against the policy of building a harmonious society," said a circular earlier released by four government ministries.

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