State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi on Feb 15 urged more efforts to further crack down on cross-border gambling and its hotbeds, at a meeting in Beijing, according to the government's account of his remarks published on Feb 161.
Zhao called for high pressure on such issues to be maintained, and said that subordinate networks of big foreign gambling groups inside China must be eliminated1. He also stressed the importance of international cooperation on law enforcement and joint actions in this regard1.
On public messaging, he said awareness concerning the fight against gambling should be boosted, and underlined the long-term progress of the crackdown1. The account did not name specific foreign operators, countries, enforcement targets or timelines, and no figures on cases, arrests or money were given1.
"subordinate networks of big foreign gambling groups inside China must be eliminated"
The remarks follow an earlier government report on curbing rising cross-border gambling crimes, listed alongside the Feb 15 item1. No new laws, penalties or enforcement operations were announced in the account of the Feb 15 meeting1.
What it means for players
The statement signals that enforcement against cross-border gambling is set to stay a priority, which matters to anyone in China who uses offshore gambling sites or travels to play. The stated focus on eliminating subordinate networks of big foreign gambling groups inside China points at the infrastructure that links overseas operators to players in the country, rather than at the overseas sites themselves1.
For locals, expats and visitors, the practical picture is unchanged by this announcement: gambling in China remains tightly restricted, and the legal exposure for taking part in cross-border betting is set out in China's gambling penalties and in the rules on paying and withdrawing through domestic channels. The call to boost public awareness suggests more official warnings and publicity around the risks, rather than any new entitlement to play1.
Nothing in the account changes the position on sports betting, on tax on winnings, or on what is permitted when gambling abroad. The wider regional context of enforcement against offshore operators is covered in crackdowns on offshore online gambling hubs in Asia and in the overview of gambling laws across Asia.
What happens next
No dated next steps were announced. Zhao's remarks set a direction, not a schedule: continued high-pressure enforcement, removal of foreign groups' networks inside China, international law enforcement cooperation and joint actions, and public awareness work, with the crackdown described as long-term1. No further meetings, deadlines or specific operations were reported1.
Sources1 sources
- China's police chief urges further crackdown on cross-border gambling, english.www.gov.cn
