Law enforcement agencies in Southeast Asia and China have expanded operations against illegal online betting platforms linked to World Cup 2026 matches. Authorities have detained dozens of operators and seized technical equipment across multiple jurisdictions this month.
Regional Enforcement Actions
Vietnamese police in Da Nang, Can Tho, and Ninh Binh uncovered an underground bookmaking network processing approximately $75 million in turnover. Investigators detained 13 suspects in Can Tho, confiscated 45 mobile devices and computers, and conducted searches at eight locations in Da Nang. In Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur officers executed Op Soga XI, detaining 32 Chinese nationals who managed online wagers through 6288.com.
The operation yielded 28 computers and additional technical equipment. Nationwide, Malaysian authorities have arrested 331 individuals and identified 185 unauthorized iGaming services since the campaign launched on June 11.
Chinese regulators in Zhejiang province dismantled a cross-border betting network targeting football fans in Jiande, seizing $148,000 and detaining eight individuals. Parallel inspections occurred in Guangxi and Xi'an. Hong Kong’s Organised Crime and Triad Bureau deployed roughly 600 officers to arrest 150 suspects connected to an offshore syndicate.
The group processed $40.8 million in bets through platforms that began operations in July 2025.
These enforcement measures coincide with the ongoing World Cup 2026 tournament. The report references data provided by R2B.News.