China's Ministry of Public Security began a campaign in November 2022 to dismantle illegal casinos and stop gambling gatherings in rural areas, according to a report on a Zhejiang case published by Sixth Tone1. Official statistics cited in that report show a 23.1% decrease in rural gambling incidents in the six months after the campaign started, compared with the same period a year earlier1.
The campaign is one part of a wider enforcement push. Authorities across various regions have also stepped up investigations into rural gambling, dismantling criminal gangs and resolving public security cases related to gambling1.
The most recent case described is in Zhuji City, in eastern Zhejiang province, where 19 people were arrested for operating an illegal mobile casino near a graveyard1. The group, which included drivers and lookouts, used the graveyard for gambling sessions between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.1. Three people, including the organizer identified only by the surname Hu, were transferred to the prosecutor's office on charges of operating a gambling house, while the other participants were detained1. The local public security bureau told The Paper that the group had run the mobile casino on five previous occasions, generating profits of nearly 20,000 yuan (about $2,812)1. The setup included a minibus for transport, lookouts on the mountainside, braziers, food, cigarettes and betel nuts, plus a lending service for gamblers1.
Under Chinese law, people caught participating in gambling can be detained for up to 15 days and fined up to 3,000 yuan, while organizers face up to 10 years in prison and possible additional fines1.
Qi Xiguo, an inspector with the Ministry of Public Security, said gambling groups have become more organized as rural transport and connectivity have improved, with some forming "professional groups" that move to remote areas along provincial, city and county borders where enforcement is weaker1.
"The targeted crackdowns have yielded some positive outcomes, yet they also underscore the persistent issue of gambling in rural regions. The ability of these 'professional' underground casinos to move and hide their operations continues to grow."
In Anhui, police used a drone with an infrared camera to locate suspects without alerting lookouts1. Gambling activity tends to rise around Spring Festival, when people return to their hometowns from cities and become targets for local gambling operations, according to Qi1.
What it means for players
The campaign targets rural gambling in mainland China, where gambling is restricted under China's gambling laws. Penalties described in the report apply to participants and organizers: detention of up to 15 days and fines of up to 3,000 yuan for those caught gambling, and up to 10 years in prison for organizers1. The enforcement focus described is on illegal rural casinos and mobile setups, including remote and border areas, rather than on licensed venues. The report does not state how the campaign affects legal gambling options in China, and no effect on Macau or Hong Kong operations is described1. For visitors and expats, the cases cited involve mainland Chinese rural locations; the report gives no information on enforcement against foreign nationals.
What happens next
The "Clear Wind 2024" campaign is under way across various regions, and Chongqing authorities have continued investigating rural gambling cases since December 20231. No end date for either campaign has been reported1.
Sources1 sources
- Zhejiang Police Dismantle Graveyard Gambling Ring, Arrest 19, sixthtone.com
