China's state television CCTV has reported that a cross-border gambling syndicate amassed over 300 billion yuan ($42.2 billion) in bets from Chinese gamers between 2015 and 2019. The revelation comes as the merger was illegal, prompting Chinese authorities to disclose the details only recently.
According to a TV channel report, Alvin Chau, a former Macau tourism executive and syndicate boss, initiated an illicit gambling operation in the Philippines targeting Chinese individuals. Given that gambling and sports betting are illegal in both Macau and China, Chau quickly faced legal consequences. He was arrested in 2021, ultimately receiving an 18-year prison sentence.
The syndicate's significant impact prompted amendments to China's criminal laws directly linked to Chau's case. Consequently, the participation of Chinese citizens in gambling through the jurisdiction of other states is now prohibited.
