Minister Zhao Kezhi: “We must create a strong anti-gambling atmosphere”
China is well aware that most of the gambling profits from Macao end up in US casino companies, and as the new financial cold war escalates, the Chinese government is making strong noises to curtail gambling from its citizens overseas with policies to first frustrate, and then end casino junket networks.
Last Thursday, Minister of Public Security, Zhao Kezhi outlined the government’s plans which include dismantling junket networks that attract Chinese gamblers by cutting off gambling-related capital and technology chains, adding: “We must take the strongest measures to strictly control and break the soil for cross-border gambling. We must create a strong anti-gambling atmosphere.”
Beijing’s latest pronouncements vowing a crackdown against cross-border gambling is a government priority this year, with authorities also seeking to cut promotional channels and stem the flow of gamblers to Macao, Philippines, South Korea, and even Australia. Authorities also plan to root out online payment platforms linked to gambling as well as companies offering internet services that can be traced to online gambling sites.
Minister Zhao Kezhi also said that China would continue to work with its neighbours and will expand a blacklist of countries that seek to attract its nationals to gamble. The blacklist, which has not been made public, was first announced in August last year and subsequently expanded in January, when it included destinations such as the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam, which are all popular gambling destinations for Mainland Chinese.
Beijing says it sees an estimated 1 trillion yuan (US$155 billion) leave the country every year because of overseas gambling, and according to reports, China’s actions are already having an impact on cross border gambling.
China’s state-run news agency reported last week that Chinese police have investigated more than 17,000 cross-border gambling and related cases, in which close to 110,000 suspects were apprehended; and also that more than 3,400 online gambling platforms, and over 2,800 illegal payment platforms and underground banks were broken up during the operations. In December last year, China passed an amendment to criminal law that makes it illegal to set up or manage casinos overseas, or to solicit Chinese to gamble.
