Chinese Police Arrest Dozens in Latest Raids on Illegal Gambling Dens

(AsiaGameHub) –   Chinese police have taken more than 50 individuals into custody during raids targeting groups that transformed abandoned buildings, private residences, and restaurants into makeshift gambling dens.

In Guiding County, Guizhou Province, law enforcement officers detained 35 alleged gamblers who had assembled to bet on a fast-paced, high-stakes game favored in underground betting circles, according to Tianyan News, a Chinese media outlet.

The group is said to have met at an abandoned structure adjacent to a train station. Investigators noted that the building was selected due to its limited accessibility and multiple entry points.

Law enforcement personnel stated they monitored the group gathering at the same spot multiple times while preparing their operation.

They described the gambling ring as “closely organized and extremely secretive,” with its leaders “deliberately opting to conduct activities after dark.”

On the evening of April 15, multiple police teams raided the building—surrounding the gambling den, blocking all entry and exit points, and forcing open a door to gain access to the site.

They discovered a group of gamblers “desperately placing bets” on a card game. No bettors managed to flee, according to police, who also seized cash and gambling equipment at the scene.

Law enforcement officials noted that their investigation into the group is still in progress.

Illegal Gambling Dens in China: Police Target Underground Betting Rings

In the meantime, the Chibi Public Security Bureau announced that police in Chibi, Hubei Province, have dismantled two suspected gambling rings.

On April 8, law enforcement officers apprehended more than 10 people caught betting on Texas Hold ’em games at a restaurant close to Chibi North Railway Station.

Authorities stated that all suspects admitted to their offenses, and six individuals have been placed in custody. Investigators also seized over 30,000 yuan (approximately $4,400) in cash at the location.

In the early morning of April 11, officers from Yujiaqiao Police Station seized a comparable sum of money from a group of alleged gamblers who had gathered to play poker at a private home in Hunan’s Shaziling Community.

Authorities noted that the group had met twice before that month to engage in gambling activities.

Seven individuals have been arrested, including one suspected ringleader who will face severe charges. All are said to have fully confessed during police interrogations.

Police departments across the country have issued public alerts regarding the risks of gambling. All types of betting are prohibited in China.

A police spokesperson stated that law enforcement agencies nationwide will continue to step up their crackdowns on gambling.

Earlier this month, police in Hangzhou utilized a drone to locate and arrest a group of alleged gamblers caught betting in a public cemetery.