China Launches Online Gambling Crackdown - 02-26-07
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February 26 - China, a country best known for producing cheap goods and Chicken
Chow Mein, has embarked on a three-month campaign designed to crack down on
online gambling.
In a statement issued recently by Chinese officials, the reason for the online
gambling crackdown is to 'restore the online environment and the health of young
Chinese people that has been ruined by online gambling.'
The online gambling crackdown is expected to kick off in China's larger cities
which include Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang, and will involve clamping
down on online casinos and online betting websites.
Local Chinese government departments have been ordered to strictly supervise and
monitor online gambling service providers to prevent them from exchanging
'virtual cash' with real currency and/or money laundering.
Last year Chinese police chalked up and incredible 347 000 gambling-related
busts involving over one million people and 3.56 billion yuan ($445 million).
