Twelve held for operating illegal gambling platform

Henry Siu

The police have arrested 12 individuals for operating an illegal bookmaker platform in collaboration with a criminal syndicate in Cambodia, which has generated HK$250 million in turnover over the past five months.

Among those arrested are five men and seven women, aged between 20 and 56, including key members of the group, customer service staff, puppet account holders, and agents responsible for transferring money in and out of these accounts.

Notably, two men and a woman aged 20 to 23 are charged with bookmaking, while three men and six women, including five foreigners, face charges of money laundering.

It is reported that some of the arrested individuals are Indonesian foreign domestic helpers who permitted the syndicate to use their accounts for transactions.

Chief Inspector Wu Hoi-ling of the Kowloon East Technology and Financial Crime Unit said officers confiscated multiple computers that recorded the syndicate's earnings and betting activities during a four-day operation that began on Saturday.

"From April to August, the syndicate received HK$250 million in bets, averaging HK$50 million per month, with a total net profit of around HK$16 million during this period," Wu said.

The betting platform, which began operations in February of last year, is based in Cambodia and is controlled by the local triad Wo Shing Wo, primarily targeting Hong Kong residents and Southeast Asians.

The site misled bettors by claiming to be a legitimate foreign betting platform on various social media channels. Users could register accounts through the platform's website or mobile app and fund their accounts with "gaming points" via the Faster Payment System or cryptocurrency.

"The site offered various gambling activities including baccarat, online slot machines, angling machines, lotteries and horse racing betting," Wu said.

"Also, it provided seasonal gambling options for events like the recent Paris Olympic Games and the new season of the English Premier League."

The syndicate strategically positioned their server overseas and concealed their operational base within a housing estate, conveniently located near banks for transactions and large-scale betting, according to Wu.

The division of labor within the syndicate was clearly defined, with key members managing operations, customer service, and promotions, while agents were tasked with renting or bribing around 600 puppet accounts to handle bets, payouts and the proceeds of their crimes.

henry.siu@singtaonewscorp.com