Key Moments:
- China expanded its anti-gambling campaign to target cross-border syndicates, online networks, and offshore financial flows
- Authorities completed high-profile extraditions, including She Zhijiang and Bai Suocheng, and delivered death sentences to figures in Myanmar’s Kokang region
- Chinese officials intensified diplomatic cooperation with neighboring countries through joint operations and intelligence sharing
Intensified Enforcement of Gambling Prohibitions
China has substantially ramped up enforcement against illegal gambling activities, launching an extensive campaign that reaches beyond its borders to disrupt online operators, cross-border crime groups, and illicit financial channels. Although mainland China has maintained a strict prohibition on gambling and iGaming for decades, authorities cited challenges posed by evolving digital platforms and transnational criminal organizations as key drivers for this latest crackdown.
Contrasts Within Domestic Jurisdictions
While the mainland enforces stringent restrictions, pockets within Chinese territory present a paradox. Macau, the only jurisdiction in the country permitting casino operations, generated MOP 226.8 billion (€24.5 billion) in 2024, cementing its role as a major global gambling hub. Hong Kong houses several international gambling enterprises, continuing to operate under its own tightly regulated system.
Major Extraditions and Stringent Sentencing
Authorities have placed particular emphasis on dismantling online gaming structures. In one of the most visible moves, She Zhijiang – a businessman accused of orchestrating over 200 online gambling sites and substantial scams targeting mainland customers – was extradited from Thailand to China in November 2025 following extended legal challenges. Prosecutors described his alleged network as a source of significant financial outflows and a direct threat to national security.
She Zhijiang handed over to the Chinese Authorities (Source: Royal Thai Police)
China also imposed severe penalties on individuals tied to unlawful gambling networks. Officials delivered death sentences to 11 members of the Ming family, a group allegedly responsible for a broad spectrum of illicit operations in Myanmar’s Kokang region. Five received suspended sentences, and another 12 individuals were sentenced to five to 24 years in prison.
In January 2024, the arrest and extradition of Bai Suocheng, accused of masterminding telecom fraud and unlawful casinos near China’s border, was labeled a major operation by state media. Bai later received a death sentence. Authorities have identified both Bai and the Ming family as significant figures behind interconnected gambling, fraud, and trafficking ventures.
China’s Supreme People’s Court stated: “ringleaders” behind cross-border gambling networks implicated in serious crimes or significant financial damage “will face the harshest penalties, including capital punishment.” Officials have emphasized that these measures are designed to curb the expansion of criminal ecosystems that now spread across neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
Diplomatic Collaboration with Regional Partners
In tandem with law enforcement, China has strengthened diplomatic initiatives to address gambling-linked crimes. High-level meetings in Bangkok led by President Xi Jinping and Thai President Anutin Charnvirakul affirmed both countries’ intentions to coordinate efforts against telecom fraud, money laundering, and gambling offenses. Thai authorities agreed publicly to bolster intelligence cooperation and pursue joint operations along the Myanmar border.
Myanmar continues to occupy a pivotal role in China’s campaign, given its regions long associated with online scam operations and illegal gambling venues. Chinese security officials have indicated that international trilateral cooperation, particularly involving China, Thailand, and Myanmar, has supported numerous arrests and prosecutions in the past year.
These collaborative efforts are structured under China’s Global Security Initiative, which aims to foster international action against digitally facilitated organized crime. Officials maintain that illicit gambling is frequently interwoven with other major criminal activities and must be tackled through multi-national enforcement strategies.
Motivations for Expanded Crackdown
Several factors are shaping the trajectory of China’s anti-gambling measures. Authorities have highlighted rising consumer demand and the economic risks associated with the illicit movement of capital offshore. Underground channels used by gambling networks to move funds have been cited as significant contributors to financial instability and regulatory challenges.
Court and government reports demonstrate that gambling organizations often simultaneously manage networks involving telecom fraud, money laundering, extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking. These “black-grey industry chains” are particularly complex to dismantle due to their combination of legal facades and illegal operations.
Scope of Enforcement Actions
China’s Ministry of Public Security has documented the closure of thousands of illegal gambling entities and financial operations each year. In 2024, authorities investigated tens of thousands of gambling and fraud-related cases, with a concentration on networks traced to Southeast Asia’s politically unstable and lightly regulated regions.
Officials warn that these criminal enterprises contribute to widespread debt, violent crime, and human trafficking, while undermining public trust and China’s international relationships. According to state media, the conduct of Chinese nationals in these overseas frauds has also affected the country’s global standing.
Risks and the Path Forward
Driven by a blend of economic, social, and geopolitical considerations, China’s approach to illegal gambling has evolved into a complex international effort. While recent arrests and extraditions underscore government progress, authorities recognize that organized criminal groups are adapting by moving deeper into unregulated territories beyond direct reach. Officials remain clear that the fight now centers on dismantling entire transnational structures supporting gambling, fraud, and related activities.
Summary of Enforcement Actions
| Key Figures/Groups | Action Taken | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| She Zhijiang | Extradited from Thailand to China | November 2025 |
| Ming family members (11) | Sentenced to death | Unspecified |
| Others connected to Ming family (5 + 12) | 5 suspended death sentences; 12 sentenced to 5-24 years in prison | Unspecified |
| Bai Suocheng | Extradited and sentenced to death | Extradited January 2024 |
Looking Ahead: Industry Implications
As enforcement intensifies, industry observers point to significant ongoing challenges. With authorities committed to an aggressive regulatory and diplomatic campaign, the evolving digital landscape and cross-border nature of illicit gambling are likely to remain central concerns for years to come. The campaign, authorities assert, now targets not just illegal gambling but the broader criminal ecosystems supporting it.
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- Author
Daniel Williams
