Macau’s Public Prosecutions Office has indicted 59 individuals for criminal association and illegal gambling following a major online sports betting bust.
This operation, involving coordinated efforts from authorities in Macau, Hong Kong, and mainland China, uncovered a large-scale illicit betting ring.
According to the Public Prosecutions Office, the defendants allegedly profited from a clandestine betting operation targeting football and basketball games.
The websites for these bets were hosted overseas, though their specific locations were not disclosed. The illegal operation reportedly handled bets totaling MOP1.08 billion ($134.2 million) since 2016, including MOP72 million weekly during the recent Euro 2024 football tournament.
Nearly MOP8.6 million ($1.1 million) in cash was seized during the investigation.
Currently, two of the 59 indicted individuals remain in pre-trial detention, while the remaining 57 have been released on bail and are prohibited from leaving the city.
The case also involves the arrest of 93 individuals in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau.
