Society

China arrests hundreds of online football gamblers

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-08 17:33

BEIJING - Chinese police have arrested more than 810 online football gamblers during the World Cup period as the Ministry of Public Security cracks down on domestic and foreign online gambling organizations.

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Among the arrested, 65 were from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, as well as from other countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, according to a briefing released Thursday by the ministry.

"After the 2010 World Cup in South Africa started, local police have struck out against online football gambling so to prevent gambling groups taking advantage of the event to expand business," said Gu Jian, a senior official with the ministry's online security bureau.

Figures from the ministry show that from June 11 to July 5, Chinese police departments at all levels across the country have broken up more than 600 online football gambling groups, with gambling funds worth some 50 million yuan ($7.3 million dollars) seized.