Hong Kong police arrest 150 over HK$320 million illegal online betting syndicate

Hong Kong police arrest 150 over HK$320 million illegal online betting syndicate Citywide raids shut down betting network using stooge accounts and overseas sites, seizing HK$1 million in cash and HK$4 million in assets Hong Kong police have arrested 150 people in a three-day crackdown on an illegal bookmaking syndicate that handled more than HK$320 million (US$40.8 million) in wagers, as officers warned against unlawful betting during the Fifa World Cup. About 600 officers carried out raids across the city between Friday and Sunday, targeting factory units in Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Sha Tin, Kwun Tong and Kowloon City, the organised crime and triad bureau said on Tuesday. The operation shut down four bet-processing centres, three promotion and administration hubs, and a recruitment venue for illegal gamblers. Eight websites offering football, horse racing and other sports betting were targeted and are believed to have been aimed at Hong Kong gamblers. Individual wagers ranged from HK$10,000 to HK$300,000. “Police are urging the public not to take part in any illegal gambling during the World Cup, which is a peak period for unlawful betting,” superintendent Au Yeung Tak of bureau said. “Anyone placing wagers with an [illegal] bookmaker, whether the bets are taken inside or outside Hong Kong, is committing an offence,” [Image text:] ORTAN IMPORTANT SLUEOON MPORTANT Operation NOR cum BLUEN 500 =500 IMPORTANT OOSF 4500 500 S500 CO 500 500