Gambling in China Faces Massive Crackdown

A new campaign has been launched against prostitution and gambling in China by the country’s Ministry of Public Security.

In China gambling news, the Ministry has announced it is ramping up its monitoring of entertainment venues that are susceptible to gambling and prostitution, such as dance clubs, massage parlors, and internet cafes. While the Ministry declined to say when the campaign had started and how long it will last, it did specify that it was taking action against anyone found “organizing, forcing, alluring, harboring, and introducing women for prostitution as well as groups operating and providing an umbrella for gambling activities.”

The Ministry additionally warned police officers that should they be found taking part in illicit activities or consorting with criminals involved in prostitution and gambling in China, they would be immediately dismissed and prosecuted.

Online gambling in China under surveillance by Net Oriole

The Ministry’s announcement follows news from last week, in which Guangdong authorities announced that they’d be cracking down on online gambling sites in China and websites that promote prostitution. The 100-day campaign against online prostitution and gambling in China was dubbed Net Oriole. It involves intense scrutiny of social media such as text messaging, instant messaging, chat rooms, and WeChat. They’d also announced that they’d be partnering up with banks, government departments, and telecom firms in order to conduct such surveillance.

Authorities have set up special task forces in police departments across the country in order to launch new investigations and continue to look into existing cases. Since their November announcement, there’s already been 120,000 individuals detained over 53,000 cases of suspected involvement in prostitution and gambling in China.

Net Oriole is part of Beijing’s ongoing war against corruption and gambling in China. In the summer there’d already been a six-month campaign that targeted unlawful online activities, as well as a ‘Chain Break’ program that targeted sports betting companies and credit agents.