Hong Kong authorities have arrested 42 individuals allegedly involved in illegal online gambling operations. The suspects have been accused of running an illegal online gambling platform that had accepted an average of over HKD26 million (US$3.3 million) in bets each month since it started operating in March 2022.
Suspects Also Allegedly Involved in Money Laundering
According to the police, the group also allegedly engaged in money laundering, with nearly HKD300 million worth of proceeds of their criminal activities laundered through “stooge bank accounts” to avoid detection. Such illegal practices occurred between October 2022 and July 2023, according to Superintendent Dicken Ko Tik of Hong Kong’s cybersecurity and technology crime bureau.
The platform, which could be accessed via website and mobile devices, was hosted by a server based overseas. It offered popular online casino games, such as blackjack, slots, and baccarat, as well as sports betting, and also ran some kind of a customer referral program that offered a commission for inviting other people to sign up with the platform and place bets.
Investigation Continues
Fund transfers were facilitated via Hong Kong’s faster payment system (FPR), with players also allowed to wager using cryptocurrencies. At the moment, police are continuing to investigate the group’s illegal operations.