Latest anti-gambling drive stats from China released
News on 27 Jan 2014
News on 27 Jan 2014
In an update on China’s continuing anti-illegal gambling drive, the Ministry of Public Security released new statistics for the first three weeks of 2014 on Saturday, disclosing that 1,527 gambling cases have been investigated and 5,300 suspects detained.
The Xinhua news agency reports that the cases were uncovered in the provinces of Anhui, Hubei, Liaoning, Fujian and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Despite a more than year-long enforcement drive, fly-by-night gambling venues in suburbs and rural areas, along with online gambling operations, are increasing in China, with some entertainment venues organising gambling in the guise of poker games.
The ministry warned that it will severely punish gambling venues and organisers, and will continue to stamp out online gambling.
Public security staff who fail to investigate gambling will be held responsible, and those who provide protection to gamblers will be subject to criminal prosecution, the ministry said, urging informants to report suspicious activity via its Weibo (social networking) account.
