China says it conducts investigations into outsiders urging their citizens to gamble

Mainland Chinese residents involved in "cross-border gambling offences" were told to turn themselves in to authorities by April 30 on Friday or to report and help with a judicial investigation into such offences. The demand was announced jointly by three mainland law enforcement agencies at a press briefing.

At the briefing, the offences were reportedly linked to "sponsors and investors of gaming organizations outside of China who encourage our people to gamble." Authorities said they were being investigated, without naming names.

Brokerage Sanford C. Bernstein said in a note on Friday that "pressure on China's overseas and online gambling activities intensifies." However, the agency said it did not believe the move was aimed at casino operations in Macau.

With the revision of China's criminal law, which takes effect on March 1, it becomes illegal for anyone to help others in "cross-border gambling."

On Friday, another note from analysts DS Kim and Derek Choi at JPMorgan Securities said: "The scope of the law may include gambling in Macau, but we do not believe the crackdown itself is aimed at operating Macau casinos."

By the end of April, mainland residents involved in "cross-border gambling offences" will be given leniency by Chinese judges if they confess to authorities, according to a briefing on Friday. The briefing was hosted by China's Ministry of Public Security, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Prosecutor's Office.

Liao Jinlong, director of international cooperation at the Foreign Ministry, said police had already begun legal enforcement against 35,000 people across the country who were allegedly involved in gambling activities in 2020.

zero tolerance

"Our goal is to completely paralyze the solicitation networks of gambling groups operating outside the country targeting our people," Liao said at a press briefing on Friday, adding that "we will not give up until we achieve our goals."

"We are currently investigating a large number of incidents. Our focus is on combating the many employees, technicians, and illicit capital that support these cross-border gambling activities, as well as sponsors and investors of gaming groups that encourage our people to gamble outside of China," added Liao.

China's Supreme People's Court Judge Li Luyi, who attended the briefing, commented on the change in criminal law.

It illustrates China's "resolution" to tackle cross-border gambling crimes, Li said, adding that definitions of such criminal activity also include gambling at casinos outside China's borders and online gambling.

BY: 바카라사이트윈