Law enforcement across China, Macau, and Hong Kong arrested 93 people and took down a major illegal online gambling ring. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

Law enforcement in mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong worked together to take down a major illegal cross-border gambling ring, arresting 93 people and seizing US$1m in cash following a series of raids.

arrested the alleged leaders of the scheme and some of the gamblers

The investigation dates back to November 2022 and stems from a money laundering probe which, in turn, led to the uncovering of the syndicate. Police arrested the alleged leaders of the scheme and some of the gamblers, with more than half of the 93 arrests happening in Macau.

Investigators discovered 92 bank accounts containing about US$2.8m in revenue from the illegal betting operation that handled an estimated US$124m. The authorities believe that a big focus of the ring was accepting online bets for sports like basketball and soccer, including the ongoing Euro 2024 tournament. It was reportedly offering enhanced odds to bettors as a way to attract more users.