Reporters from Legal Daily, the newspaper of China's central political and legal affairs system, documented online World Cup betting operating through social platforms and chat groups during the Qatar tournament, in an investigation published on November 28, 20221. The findings were carried by Xinhua1.
The reporters wrote that betting information was circulating widely enough to have become effectively public. "在各网络平台中，有不少人发布赌球相关信息，引诱球迷参与网络赌球，也有伪装成球迷交流群的社交群聊"1. Hebei Justice Police Vocational College professor Han Deli said the information had "已经呈现公开化的趋势，亟须加大打击力度"1.
The investigation described two main models. In the first, called "代为结算" (settlement on behalf of the bettor), the platform acts as banker, recruits layers of agents, and the agents run social groups where they post betting information and complete transactions in private messages1. The report said this model "因其低门槛、高回报、零成本等特点，渐渐在网络赌球中成为主流模式"1. In the second, the "地下钱庄" (underground bank) model, bookmakers run betting sites hosted overseas, domestic agents distribute invitation codes and links, and users convert yuan into virtual currency to buy chips1. The report said the method is cumbersome but hard to trace, and that many large bettors choose it1.
The reporters named two sites. One, "博一博" (Boyibo), offered sports, card games and lottery sections plus an app download prompt1. The other, "欧宝娱乐" (Oubao Entertainment), listed Juventus and Leicester City as regional and official partners and claimed licenses from Malta's MGA and the Philippines' PAGCOR, registration in the British Virgin Islands, and recognition by an international industry association1. Deposits and withdrawals used USDT at a rate pegged to the dollar, with TRC20 and ERC20 transfer protocols and multiple yuan payment channels1.
On risk, the report said deep involvement in online betting ends in losses for essentially everyone: "深陷网络赌球者基本'十赌十输'"1. It added that agents may abscond with funds when bettors place large wagers on an upset, and that bettors rarely report it because they fear admitting to illegal gambling1. Shanghai Kaiyuan Law Firm lawyer Yang Qian said losses can drive people toward crime, "进而滋生洗钱、盗窃、抢劫、诈骗、杀人等违法犯罪"1.
Shanghai University of Political Science and Law associate professor Chen Litian said online betting violates the Public Security Administration Punishments Law and the Criminal Law1. Under the public security law, penalties range from detention of five days or fewer to between ten and fifteen days, with a fine imposed alone or in addition1. If it constitutes a crime, it is punished as gambling or running a casino, with a maximum of ten years in prison1.
What it means for players
The report describes enforcement risk on both sides of the transaction. Betting through agents in chat groups, or registering on offshore sites reached through links posted in forums, falls under the same provisions Chen cited, with detention and fines at the lower end and prison terms of up to ten years where a crime is found1. The report also notes that offshore servers make Chinese enforcement difficult, which does not change the legal position of the person placing the bet1. Separately, the report says some platforms are outright frauds: users who win may find withdrawals never complete, with the site demanding further deposits instead1. For visitors and expats, the article concerns betting activity inside China; it does not address the position of people betting from outside the mainland.
What happens next
The report contains no announced enforcement action, arrests or court dates. The experts quoted called for stronger measures rather than setting out steps: Han urged heavier punishment and vigilance against collusion between domestic and overseas operators1, while Yang called for police to improve investigation, strengthen cross-region cooperation, and for police, banks and tax authorities to build joint enforcement mechanisms1. No timeline is given1.
Sources1 sources
- 世界杯网络赌球“藏匿”社交平台 记者调查网络赌球乱象-新华网, news.cn
