Hong Kong police arrest 200+ in latest illegal gambling crackdown

• Hong Kong police officers have rounded up more than 200 people in their latest crackdown on illegal gambling
• Criminals are becoming more inventive and more careful about how they advertise their services and whom they give access to
• Illegal gambling is seemingly thriving despite the stiff penalties that apply

Police officers in Hong Kong have wrapped up the Special Administration Region (SAR)’s latest crackdown on illegal gambling, resulting in 208 arrests. A total of 15 property owners were arrested along with an accountant and others.

Officers seized about $90,000 in cash and chips from the venues they raided as part of the operation. The illegal gambling venues have evolved significantly to offer their patrons a much more polished and high-end experience, with QR codes for gamblers to make online payments. which made the police’s task in tracking the culprits much more difficult.

Illegal gambling again targeted by Hong Kong police

But not all people arrested in the recent raid were unknown to the police. In fact, the property owners – or at least some of them – had already been warned in the past over their affiliation with gambling operations.

"Some of the property owners had already received warnings from the force in the past, but they repeatedly ignored our warnings. These gambling establishments were reopened at the same locations again after some time," Senior Inspector Kwok Man-wai said in a statement released on Monday.

Other than focusing on the triads that pull the strings behind such activities, the most recent raids also want to hold accountable the people who collaborate with these criminal organizations by providing the venues or tending to day-to-day operations.

However, criminals have gotten smarter, too. Anticipating raids, most of the venues have set up CCTV cameras in their vicinity to give them early notice. Entry is harder than before, and requires a recommendation or referral, which allows the establishments to screen thoroughly who goes in and out.

Hong Kong is considering expanding the regulated gambling market to curb the black market

Hong Kong is also slowly opening to the prospect of legalizing more forms of gambling in the SAR. A chief concern has been the rise in illegal basketball gambling, prompting the local administration to discuss the potential rollout of regulated betting markets for the sport.

Hong Kong does regulate certain forms of gambling presently. The SAR allows horse racing bets to be placed, as well as lottery and football (soccer).

Despite the stiff penalties for illegal gambling, ranging from several months for participation in such activities as a punter to several years as a host, the unregulated market is thriving, as criminals become smarter about how to hide their tracks.

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