Key Moments:
- China has sentenced five senior members of Myanmar’s Bai family to death for casino-linked cyber scams
- The Bai organization’s operations generated around 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion), according to authorities
- The crackdown is part of Beijing’s ongoing effort to dismantle cross-border gambling and cybercrime networks
Major Sentences Handed to Bai Family
China has delivered death sentences to key figures in Myanmar’s Bai family, marking an aggressive move against casino-associated cybercrime in its southern border areas. As reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP), the court’s decision follows a large-scale initiative targeting syndicates involved in illegal gambling, online scams, and human trafficking.
The Bai family first gained notoriety in Laukkaing, in Myanmar’s Kokang region, by developing casino and red-light enterprises throughout the 2000s. While these venues stimulated considerable cross-border investment and cash flow, they operated largely outside Chinese regulatory scrutiny.
Key Moments:
- China has sentenced five senior members of Myanmar’s Bai family to death for casino-linked cyber scams
- The Bai organization’s operations generated around 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion), according to authorities
- The crackdown is part of Beijing’s ongoing effort to dismantle cross-border gambling and cybercrime networks
Major Sentences Handed to Bai Family
China has delivered death sentences to key figures in Myanmar’s Bai family, marking an aggressive move against casino-associated cybercrime in its southern border areas. As reported by South China Morning Post (SCMP), the court’s decision follows a large-scale initiative targeting syndicates involved in illegal gambling, online scams, and human trafficking.
The Bai family first gained notoriety in Laukkaing, in Myanmar’s Kokang region, by developing casino and red-light enterprises throughout the 2000s. While these venues stimulated considerable cross-border investment and cash flow, they operated largely outside Chinese regulatory scrutiny.
🇨🇳 On Nov 4, China’s Shenzhen court sentenced 5 members of the Bai family crime syndicate — including Bai Suocheng 白所成& Bai Yingcang白应苍 — to death.
The group ran telecom fraud, gambling, murder & drug operations from Kokang, Myanmar, amassing 29 billion yuan (≈ USD 4… pic.twitter.com/KUW9p2hjhK
— China Perspective (@China_Fact) November 4, 2025
From Gambling to Cyber Scams
Facing stricter enforcement against offshore gambling, the Bai network shifted towards online fraud schemes. These included investment scams, romance fraud, and a variety of rigged online gambling platforms, ensnaring victims throughout China. Sentencing details include five family members receiving the death penalty, among them former Kokang political leader Bai Suocheng. Two defendants were handed suspended death sentences, five were imprisoned for life, and nine others received prison terms between three and 20 years.
Chinese investigators allege the network amassed about 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion) through widespread fraud. Many scam centers operated as heavily guarded compounds, with trafficked Chinese laborers forced to participate under threat of violence. Official reports attribute the deaths of at least six Chinese nationals to abuse in these locations, alongside one reported suicide.
Precedent with Ming Family Sentencing
The penalties delivered to the Bai family echo sentences imposed in September on the Ming family, whose activities were centered on the Crouching Tiger Villa in Kokang. This network reportedly managed up to 10,000 coerced workers and maintained private militias to protect its criminal operations. Ming family leader Ming Xuechang died by suicide in custody.
Both actions stem from China’s dedicated campaign to disrupt casino-driven cybercrime, which is viewed by officials as fueling capital flight, organized trafficking, and further criminality. Despite longstanding prohibitions on gambling targeting Chinese citizens, the proliferation of casino zones in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos has created fertile ground for such activities.
Beijing Increases Pressure on Cross-Border Crime
China intensified its efforts after viral videos revealed the abuse of scam victims, triggering public outcry. In response, Chinese authorities have issued arrest warrants, dispatched enforcement teams, and pressed Myanmar for extradition and cooperation, resulting in thousands of suspects being returned to China.
State media refers to use of capital punishment as a “resolute warning” to syndicates engaged in gambling-related cybercrime and trafficking. There is now mounting pressure on neighboring nations to enforce stricter regulations on casinos and related infrastructure.
| Family | Key Sentence(s) | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bai | 5 death sentences, 2 suspended death sentences, 5 life terms, 9 prison sentences (3-20 years) | Generated around 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion) from scams; reported abuse and deaths |
| Ming | Similar sentences | Operated with private militias; leader died by suicide in custody |
Future Prospects for China’s Gambling Crackdown
Analysts point to regional instability and Myanmar’s internal conflict as drivers for the emergence of border-area casino economies. It is noted that accusations remain over Myanmar’s military leadership permitting such groups in return for security and financial contributions, though the junta denies these claims.
As Beijing intensifies its campaign, experts warn that without broader changes to economic incentives and governance in the region, criminal groups may continue to adapt and relocate, meaning the battle against offshore gambling schemes remains ongoing.
From Gambling to Cyber Scams
Facing stricter enforcement against offshore gambling, the Bai network shifted towards online fraud schemes. These included investment scams, romance fraud, and a variety of rigged online gambling platforms, ensnaring victims throughout China. Sentencing details include five family members receiving the death penalty, among them former Kokang political leader Bai Suocheng. Two defendants were handed suspended death sentences, five were imprisoned for life, and nine others received prison terms between three and 20 years.
Chinese investigators allege the network amassed about 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion) through widespread fraud. Many scam centers operated as heavily guarded compounds, with trafficked Chinese laborers forced to participate under threat of violence. Official reports attribute the deaths of at least six Chinese nationals to abuse in these locations, alongside one reported suicide.
Precedent with Ming Family Sentencing
The penalties delivered to the Bai family echo sentences imposed in September on the Ming family, whose activities were centered on the Crouching Tiger Villa in Kokang. This network reportedly managed up to 10,000 coerced workers and maintained private militias to protect its criminal operations. Ming family leader Ming Xuechang died by suicide in custody.
Both actions stem from China’s dedicated campaign to disrupt casino-driven cybercrime, which is viewed by officials as fueling capital flight, organized trafficking, and further criminality. Despite longstanding prohibitions on gambling targeting Chinese citizens, the proliferation of casino zones in Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos has created fertile ground for such activities.
Beijing Increases Pressure on Cross-Border Crime
China intensified its efforts after viral videos revealed the abuse of scam victims, triggering public outcry. In response, Chinese authorities have issued arrest warrants, dispatched enforcement teams, and pressed Myanmar for extradition and cooperation, resulting in thousands of suspects being returned to China.
State media refers to use of capital punishment as a “resolute warning” to syndicates engaged in gambling-related cybercrime and trafficking. There is now mounting pressure on neighboring nations to enforce stricter regulations on casinos and related infrastructure.
| Family | Key Sentence(s) | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bai | 5 death sentences, 2 suspended death sentences, 5 life terms, 9 prison sentences (3-20 years) | Generated around 29 billion yuan ($4.1 billion) from scams; reported abuse and deaths |
| Ming | Similar sentences | Operated with private militias; leader died by suicide in custody |
Future Prospects for China’s Gambling Crackdown
Analysts point to regional instability and Myanmar’s internal conflict as drivers for the emergence of border-area casino economies. It is noted that accusations remain over Myanmar’s military leadership permitting such groups in return for security and financial contributions, though the junta denies these claims.
As Beijing intensifies its campaign, experts warn that without broader changes to economic incentives and governance in the region, criminal groups may continue to adapt and relocate, meaning the battle against offshore gambling schemes remains ongoing.
- Author
Daniel Williams
