China’s Battle to Control Cross-Border Illegal Online Gambling

China has praised the Philippine government's decision to ban Chinese-run online casinos, which it accused of being involved in criminal activities such as financial scams, human trafficking, and murder.  

China's Supreme People's Court has also taken a tough stance on cross-border online gambling, issuing a directive to courts across the country to impose strict penalties on those involved in such activities. 

The court has expressed concern about the growing problem of online gambling, which has led to the targeting of Chinese citizens by overseas casinos and online gambling groups.   

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China's efforts to combat cross-border online gambling include: 

• China's Supreme People's Court has issued a directive to courts across the country to continue imposing stringent penalties on those involved in cross-border online gambling.
• The court aims to mitigate financial risks and enhance economic security by targeting organizers, ringleaders, and repeat offenders. 
• The crackdown is aimed at curbing the growth of online gambling, which has been linked to financial crimes such as kidnapping, illegal detention, fraud, extortion, and money laundering.

Notable cases: 

• A gambling ring led by Zhang was sentenced to prison and fined for illegally operating casinos and businesses, generating over 8.9 billion yuan ($1.22 billion). 
• A mafia-style organization headed by Yu was sentenced to life imprisonment for operating casinos and illegal detention, smuggling people for gambling purposes, and accumulating illicit gains. 

Key measures: 

• The Supreme Court has praised the judiciary's actions in these cases, emphasizing the need for a continued crackdown on gambling and organized crime. 
• The court has emphasized the importance of disrupting financial markets exploited by criminal activities and eradicating the broader spectrum of criminality associated with gambling. 

Broader strategy: 

• China's judicial approach reflects its broader strategy to secure its financial environment and maintain social order by rigorously policing the intersections of gambling and organized crime. 
• The judiciary aims to remain vigilant in detecting and acting against gambling activities while adjudicating other cases, ultimately aiming to eradicate criminality associated with gambling.