Hong Kong Police Launch Operations to Crack Down on Illegal World Cup Betting Ahead of June 11 Opening

Hong Kong police have launched Operations Gobi and Shield to combat illegal offshore gambling ahead of the World Cup opening on June 11, focusing on publicity, education, intelligence, and enforcement. According to Odaily, police said illegal gambling has increasingly shifted to digital channels in recent years, including online betting, recruiting bettors through social media, and settling wagers using cryptocurrency, adding that they can still trace participants. Under Hong Kong law, placing bets with offshore bookmakers carries a maximum penalty of nine months in prison and a fine of HK$50,000. Accepting bets carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a fine of HK$5 million, while money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison and a fine of HK$5 million. Police also shared a case involving a young person who had been addicted to illegal offshore gambling and at one point owed HK$160,000. A police clinical psychologist warned that people who start gambling before age 18 face a risk of more than 80% of developing gambling disorder later.