A major cross-border illegal gambling syndicate has been dismantled in a joint operation by police in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau. The Macau Judicial Police said the operation, which resulted in the arrest of 93 people, targeted a complex network involved in illegal gambling. Those arrested included key figures and organisers, and authorities confiscated more than 8 million Macanese patacas (€925,507) in various currencies.

The operation is part of China's crackdown on illegal international gambling. Earlier this year, 93 people were arrested in a southwestern province of China . According to local reports, the syndicate's network had an operation in the Philippines and was targeting Chinese gamblers.

Operation results and withdrawal of funds

According to local media reports, the syndicate, which has been active since 2016, processed transactions totaling at least MOP1 billion (€115.6 million). During the operation, police discovered that the syndicate was using overseas servers to host betting sites on football and basketball games, offering attractive odds to attract players. The operation involved simultaneous raids across Macau, Cotai and Coloane, leading to the seizure of significant amounts of cash, mobile phones, computers and other evidence.  

Arrested members of the organization and ongoing investigations  

Investigations have revealed that four members of the syndicate are currently serving sentences for money laundering, while another four are suspected of illegal gambling. Evidence from the 2022 money laundering investigation linked these jailed members to the ongoing illegal gambling operation, prompting further scrutiny and intelligence gathering. Mainland Chinese authorities have also arrested 42 members of the syndicate, seizing 80 million yuan (€10.2 million) in cash and freezing more than 90 bank accounts.

Hong Kong arrest and financial transactions  

Meanwhile, Hong Kong police have arrested a man in Tuen Mun who played a significant role in the syndicate, helping it make more than HK$8 million (€954,220) in bets over nine months. Investigations have shown that the syndicate made more than MOP72 million (€8.3 million) per week through peripheral bets during Euro 2024.  

Gambling establishment disguised as a coffee shop

Further investigations led to the discovery of an illegal gambling establishment in the commercial district of Areia Preta, Macau. The establishment, disguised as a coffee shop, operated irregularly to avoid detection and offered games such as Texas Hold'em and Mahjong, with dealers manipulating the card placement. 

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