Hong Kong Illegal Sports Betting Crackdown

Only legal bookmakers should be used during the World Cup.

Hong Kong has warned sports betting fans to stay away from illegal bookmakers when putting money on this year's World Cup matches.

One illegal gambling syndicate which was operating across the Hong Kong border was shut down over the weekend by the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau (OCTB) and other official crime organisations.

The guilty parties were found to be running a bookmakers illegally, receiving bets of up to HK$100 million (£8.7 million) each month, as well as taking part in money laundering schemes, with nearly $800 million in bank accounts across Hong Kong.

Man Tat-shing, superintendent of the OCTB, said, "Police will continue taking vigorous enforcement action against illegal bookmaking activities during the course of the World Cup."

The Gambling Commission in the UK recently reminded football fans doing some sports betting during the football tournament to make sure they are using a licensed operator in order to remain on the right side of the law.