The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) of China has revealed its decision to bolster the restrictive measures on cross-border gambling and its crackdown aimed at preventing online and telecom fraud amid the coronavirus pandemic. The authorities have further explained that such crimes have become more rampant over the period of social isolation and industry shutdown.
Also, the Ministry of Public Security shared that apart from such perpetrators, its most recent operation will also target the ones providing any guidance, assistance and technical support when it comes to gambling money payments. The authorities warned everyone that it is not legally permitted to take part in any cross-border online gambling activities and called for local customers to make sure they stay away from such services. The Ministry also urged Chinese nationals to stay watchful for the great variety of online and telecom frauds that could occur during social isolation and ongoing coronavirus crisis.
The authorities pledged to impose strict law enforcement on everyone who is taking advantage of such cross-border gambling services and generates money on the backs of local customers. The Ministry said that it would clamp down on all organizations that are proved to be providing settlement services or payment transfers for such operations.
Measures against Cross-Border Gambling Set to Protect Local Customers
Organizations and individuals who break the directive, are set to face restrictive measures in regard to border entry and exit. They would also be penalized t their individual credit ratings. Apart from that, the Ministry of Public Security explained that a blacklist of gamblers and lawbreakers who stand behind the illegal cross-border gambling activities is set to be established.
The latest measures have been initiated in the light of coronavirus infection outbreak and are aimed at tackling the further spread of the disease. The Chinese MPS warned individuals who know they might be infected with Covid-19 to make sure they do not make any attempts of crossing the country’s borders as they will face an investigation on allegations of putting public security in danger and impairment of the prevention and control of the disease, along with other crimes.
Furthermore, the Ministry also required from the public to report any related crimes and criminal offenses to help and support the measures unveiled by the country to protect local customers’ privacy and security.
As far as so-called cross-border gambling is concerned, at the end of February, a meeting was held by the Chinese MPS during which Minister Zhao Kezhi urged local officials to probe a number of major cases regarding global online gambling operators that have been offering their services to Chinese customers. At the time, Minister Zhao highlighted the importance of the establishment of a blacklist system for gambling participation.
